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Opinions on Project Read

Submitted by an LD OnLine user on

My 6 yr old (K) will be going to Resource for Reading and Math. The resource teacher uses “Project Read” which is what the district uses. We’ve been using PG over the summer and have had a little progress. She uses a lot of multi-sensory components to the instruction. The classsroom teacher is using “Spalding”.

Just wondering what you all think or have heard about “Project Read” since you all have been great teachers to me over the last 4 months which I appreciate tremendously.

Blessings,
Diane

Submitted by Lorna Doone on Fri, 09/05/2003 - 3:19 AM

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Both programs have good track records and decent reserach. However, what matters is the match between the child and the program. This is what individualization is about. Most reading programs work for most kids. Unfortunately, what we end up concerned about are those left over from “most” and that is why you have to look at their profiles in comparison with the instructional slant.

Almost any program works for 80 - 90% of the kids. They can be widely varying programs. What will vary is the composition of the students who are not reached. You ALWAYS have to know the program that failed, as well as the student’s profile when making recommendations.

Submitted by des on Fri, 09/05/2003 - 5:05 AM

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Lorna Doone, You seem to know a bit about this. My question to you would be aside from the audience (ie Wilson is for older kids, some programs are made to be more classroom, etc. etc.), aren’t the Orton based programs fairly similar?? I haven’t had a lot of experience with this, but I have worked with Wilson a bit and used the OG (itself) in a practicum and now looked at the Spalding manual. There do seem to be differences but I don’t feel they seem really different.

OTOH, the differences between OG, LMB methods (SS and LiPs), and PG seem very different with a few similarities (deal at the phoneme level, etc.). With LMB being VERY intensive, very multisensory, etc. and perhaps more focused on a smaller part of reading; while PG is broader less MSensory.

—des

Submitted by PT on Fri, 09/05/2003 - 4:42 PM

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Hi Diane,

I saw this wonderful program on PBS last Sunday about two school systems that were struggling with students who were low performing readers. One of them, which was an inner city school, used Project Read, and had considerable success as their test scores on state testing rose considerably.

This program, by the way, bought tears to my eyes, as a predominantly white school, had heard about how much success this place was having, and sought out the experts there for help. You can just imagine how remarkable a scene that was as the principal didn’t seem to have a racist bone in his body and was willing to whatever it took to help his students.

Good luck.

PT

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 09/09/2003 - 3:28 AM

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When I completed my O-G training, my master teacher recommended Project Read (and another program). She is a Fellow in The Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practioners and Educators. I have been using it in private practice for 11 years, and have had much success with it. It was created for classroom use with at-risk students. The Detroit Public School system had used it with their underperforming students and were so impressed wit the results that they presented their data at an IDA conference a few years ago. Spalding is also a good program it is based on O-G principles too.

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