Sound Sensible and S.P.I.R.E. are the current reading curriculums that are used in our Elementary Special Education classrooms.
Sound Sensible
"Sound Sensible provides hands-on instruction in phonological awareness, alphabet knowledge, understanding letter-sound relationships, and handwriting for beginning and struggling readers. As a pre-Level1 of SPIRE (Specialized Program Individualizing Reading Excellence), Sounds Sensible was developed from research related to reading and literacy instruction, with an emphasis on explicit, systematic sequential instruction in phonics, phonological awareness, spelling, and handwriting".
S.P.I.R.E.
"S.P.I.R.E.- (Specialized Program Individualizing Reading Excellence) After almost half a century of debate about methodology in the field of reading and literacy, the past decades have seen a growing consensus among researchers, and theorists in the field. This consensus centers on several important factors related to reading and literacy instruction, based on research indicating that these four factors have powerful influences on achievement:
Explicit, systematic, sequential instruction in phonological awareness, phonics, and spelling
Direct instruction on vocabulary and reading comprehension
Differentiated instruction
Rich, integrated experiences in reading and literacy; reading text that reinforces concepts taught and enhances fluency
S.P.I.R.E. is not only build on these factors, but also addresses the principles of best practices as set forth by leading researchers in the field of literacy. These principles have been recognized in the state standards, as well as in the set of standards published by professionals such as the International Literacy Association (ILA), the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).
SPIRE targets nonreaders, struggling readers, and students with dyslexia has been approved to be a highly effective programs for teaching these students to read based on out they learn".