Wilson Reading System
The Wilson Reading System is a highly structured reading and writing program that serves as an intervention and helps struggling readers in grades 2 – 12 learn the structure of words and language by directly instructing students to decode and encode (spell) fluently. The program was originally developed for students who have dyslexia, but has been expanded to target the needs of students who are below grade level in reading.
The Wilson Reading System provides a plan in which students receive instruction in: learning to hear sounds, manipulating color-coded sound, syllable, and word cards, performing finger tapping exercises to assist in phonemic awareness; writing dictated words and sentences; reading aloud; and paraphrasing selections they read, and which are read to them. Students receive direct reinforcement and instructional feedback based on their individual performances and do not proceed to the next step until they have met each step’s criteria as each step builds upon the one before.
There are two models of implementation for the Wilson Reading System. The intervention model incorporates the use of small group instruction taught by either a remedial reading teacher or regular classroom teacher for four or five days each week. The intensive model provides those students who have been diagnosed with a language disability with tutoring or small group instruction provided by a certified Wilson instructor. The lessons are fast paced with continuous interaction between teacher and student. Each lesson can be completed in 55 to 90 minutes.
Current research on the Wilson Reading System states that it is consistent with the idea that the program can be used effectively to help “close the gap” in reading skills for struggling readers. The Wilson Reading System’s content and instructional design are aligned with current reading research.
Strengths of the Wilson Reading System:
The instructional design is explicit and systematic.
The scope and sequence is detailed and logical.
Each lesson is planned carefully with a timed guideline to follow.
The lessons are fast paced with multisensory instruction.
The strong professional development component aims to insure fidelity of the delivery.
Weaknesses of the Wilson Reading System:
None were noted.
Source: Florida Research for Reading Research