Wilson Reading

Well if the school is getting Wilson for those grades, hopefully they are getting the Wilson programs aimed at those age levels. They have the regular Wilson program that is for (mostly) older kids. They have now started something called Fundations. The Fundations teaches phonemic awareness and early reading in what looks like an age appropriate and otherwise appropriate way. I haven’t actually used it but I had the time to look at it at a conference and it looks pretty good. It does not require specific training but I would guess you would need to study the manual well to teach it. It is aimed at high risk kids but I would guess it would be ok for any populations, and that so-called normal kids will sail thru it.

—des

The original Wilson program is very good…. for older students. It’s a bit on the dry side — no cute factor at all. this is an advantage with older students who are often hypersensitive to “little kid” stuff, and it helps prevent distraction, but I would hope if they’ve got something for the younger students it would be done with them in mind, and not just be a modification of Wilson.
I would be a little nervous, though; could be that Wilson training is what was available, so that’s what the school got.
http://www.rlac.com does training in some other multisensory programs that are for beginning readers.

Sue, there is a new program out called Fundations, which I saw at the IDA conference here. I think it hasn’t been out very long. It has puppets and other little kid type things. Looks pretty good.

I agree if they didn’t use the Fundations that Wilson wouldn’t be too good with younger kids.

—des

If you are still interested in the Wilson Reading program for younger students, Fundations, which is a subprogram of Wilson published in 2002, is the way to go. Check out the Fundation website at http://www.fundations.com. It gives you samples to download and tells you all about the program. Fundations was designed for whole class instruction, for intervention of language based learning disabilities, and as an intervention for readers in the lowest 30th percentile. It is a program that teaches phonemic awareness, letter recognition, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension for students K-3. I hope this information is helpful.

i’ve been using the fundations program with first and second graders. it’s a wonderful program and I’ve had success with very dyslexic kids. It covers everything, phonics, reading, writing, spelling. there’s detailed lesson plans and it’s easy to use. I prefer it over phonographix, which I find too fiddley with a group of kids.

Thanks!!! That’s what I was *hoping* was happening :-)

>Thanks!!! That’s what I was *hoping* was happening :-) Sue

It’s a good thing too. What you hope for doesn’t always (or mostly) happen. :-}

—Jane

I am using Fundations with First graders. It is fabulous! It has key components to address fluency, reading, writing, spelling but mostly has a systematic approach to decoding. I have seen such great progress in my students! I started the year with 35 strugglers (not an LD class). (I am the Early Intervention Teacher) and now at the end of the year have about 3 students that will require further testing. Not bad results!!

Only 3 out of 35, I think it’s not just good results it’s great results. It’s what should be going on out there is reading land. If whole language were used I would guess the referral rate would be near 100% with your population. (If they were sharp enough to refer.)

—des