WRS Intensive Instruction for the Non-Responsive Reader: (Steps 1-6)

Description

This online course presents, in detail, the multisensory structured language (MSL) instruction that is required for teaching students in grade two and beyond with significant word-level deficits who are unresponsive to previous instruction (due to dyslexia and/or other characteristics that indicate the need for intensive, multisensory instruction). The Wilson Reading System (WRS) Intensive Instruction for the Non responsive Reader: (Steps 1–6) Online Course provides practical application of reading research, with particular emphasis on alphabetic knowledge, phonological/phonemic awareness, phonics (sound-symbol relationships), rapid naming skills/word retrieval, and spelling at the beginning levels of decoding and encoding. It also provides specific procedures to teach the concepts presented in Steps 1–6 of the Wilson Reading System, including instruction on the following syllable types: closed, vowel-consonant-e, open, and final stable. The course includes additional topics on diagnostic teaching and differentiating instruction, program pacing, high frequency word instruction, vocabulary instruction, fluency instruction, dyslexia, typical reading development versus dyslexia, listening and reading comprehension strategies, use of differentiated texts, and handwriting.

Prerequisites WRS Introductory Course (completed within the last five years)

Duration 90 hours; must be completed within 12 months

Graduate Credit Up to six graduate credits (optional) are available through Fitchburg State University, Fitchburg, MA, upon completion of course requirements. Please see Process for Graduate Credit for details.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the research base for MSL teaching.
• Understand the Response to Intervention model and how to implement it.
• Understand the necessary principles of instruction used to teach students with a language­ based learning disability: direct, explicit, systematic, structured, sequential, integrated, multisensory, synthetic, analytical, diagnostic, prescriptive, mastery/automaticity, cumulative, metacognitive, and emotionally sound.
• Understand the nature of dyslexia (indicators/identification, neurobiological aspects, and prevalence).
• Understand the factors involved in the acquisition of literacy skills.
• Understand the instruction and importance of transcription skills.
• Know word structure, including phonemes and associated graphemes, syllables, syllabication rules, morphemes, schwa, etc.
• Understand variances in students’ vocabulary acquisition as well as learning expectations.
• Know the importance of core and academic (general and domain-specific) vocabulary and understand research-based instructional methods for all students, including English learners.
• Know how to appropriately select and teach vocabulary within an MSL lesson.
• Know the importance of fluency as well as factors contributing to its development.
• Understand differentiation of fluency instruction for students with significant deficits.
• Understand the different graphic organizers for varied types of informational texts (description, compare-contrast, etc.).
• Know the importance of oral language comprehension and explain how to differentiate instruction with individuals as indicated by their cognitive profile.
• Identify the instructional implications associated with different cognitive skill deficits.

Materials

• Wilson Reading System^® (WRS) Intensive Instruction Online Course (Steps 1–6) (access granted upon registration for the course)
• Articles, reading assignments within the on line course, as assigned (assignments subject to updates/change)
• Wilson Academy^® Wilson Reading System Learning Community membership (12-month access)/lnternet Access
• Wilson Reading System^® Instructor Manual Steps 1–6, 4th Edition (NOTE: This manual is included in the WRS Introductory Set Steps 1–6, 4th Edition)
• Wilson Reading System^® Introductory Set Steps 1–6, 4th Edition (strongly recommended)

Completion Requirements

• Completion of all on line course modules, including videos, activities, and assigned required reading.
• Participation in six different threaded discussion topics (if seeking college credit). Responses must be posted as a thread. Discussion topics are posted in the Discussion Board in the Intensive Learning Community at Wilson Academy.
• Successful completion of all nine online assessments with a grade of 80% or better: WRS Lesson Plan Review, Step 1, Step 2, Step 3, Topics I, Step 4, Step 5, Step 6, and Topics II

NOTE: These assessments are self-paced. Once an assessment has been submitted electronically, responses cannot be
changed. While it is possible to retake an assessment, it should be noted that the first grade assigned for any assessment will be the grade of record.

Upon Completion Successful completion of this course, when combined with the WRS Steps 1-6 Practicum, will result in WRS Level I Certification with eligibility for the Wilson® Dyslexia Practitioner (W.D.P.) credential.

Registration This registration is for the online course only, without certification.

Graduate Credit

Six graduate credit (optional) is available through Fitchburg State University, Fitchburg, MA upon completion of course requirements. Please see Process for Graduate Credit for details.

NOTE: This registration is a reservation. You will be enrolled into the course within 3-5 business days.