Fall Fluency for RTI

Looking for some fall-themed fluency activities for RTI?  Head on over to http://arlenesandberg.blogspot.com/2014/09/building-fluency-with-fall-fluency.html.  They have a free pack of fall-themed fluency activities for you to try with students.  I loved them so much that I bought the entire pack of activities.  It was only $4!!!

Fluency information

Facilitating Writing Fluency

The ability to write automatically is commonly called writing fluency. This online excerpt from Writing Instruction and Assessment for ELLs explains the reasons why teachers need to focus on writing fluency, the challenges ELLs face when learning to write, and instructional strategies for facilitating writing fluency. Educators may be particularly interested in descriptions of alphabetic features for a number of languages.  Please click on the blue link of "Facilitating Writing Fluency" and take a look at the information.

Using S.P.I.R.E. for reading intervention

Our district has decided to begin using S.P.I.R.E. for reading intervention.  Each school has arranged a master schedule so that each grade level has an intervention block.  Every child in the district receives a universal screening in the area of reading three times a year.  After the screening, the children are ranked according to their score.  The children who are in greatest need receive intervention from academic interventionists.  The remaining children participate in intervention or enrichment groups with the classroom teachers.

S.P.I.R.E. stands for Specialized Program Individualizing Reading Excellence.  It is a multisensory systematic reading program for students who are struggling with reading.  It begins with the PreK level and reaches up to the 8th grade.  S.P.I.R.E has been used across the United States with good success.  It covers the five areas of reading recommended by the National Reading Panel; Phonological Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Comprehension, and Vocabulary.  It can include (if purchased) an initial placement assessment. This program incorporates best practices in reading instruction.

What research-based reading intervention programs does your school system use?  Have you found it to be successful?  We are just beginning our journey but are excited at the possibilities.