According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, about 34 percent of fourth graders in the United States read below the basic level. This alarming statistic highlights the importance of providing effective reading programs for struggling readers to help them improve their literacy skills. Fortunately, there are several evidence-based reading programs available that have been proven to be successful in supporting struggling readers. In this article, we will discuss the top 5 best reading programs for struggling readers.
1. Orton-Gillingham
Orton-Gillingham is a widely recognized and highly effective reading program for students who struggle with reading, spelling, and writing. This approach is based on the principles of multi-sensory instruction, which means that it engages multiple senses (visual, auditory, and kinesthetic) to help students learn and retain information. Orton-Gillingham is structured, sequential, and cumulative, making it ideal for students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. By breaking down language into its smallest components and teaching them systematically, Orton-Gillingham helps struggling readers develop strong phonemic awareness and decoding skills.
2. Wilson Reading System
The Wilson Reading System is another evidence-based reading program that has been widely used to help struggling readers improve their reading skills. Similar to Orton-Gillingham, the Wilson Reading System is structured, multi-sensory, and explicit, making it an effective tool for students with reading difficulties. The program focuses on teaching students phonemic awareness, decoding, spelling, and fluency through a series of step-by-step lessons. The Wilson Reading System also incorporates systematic and cumulative instruction to help struggling readers build a strong foundation in reading.
3. Reading Recovery
Reading Recovery is a short-term intervention program designed to help struggling readers in first grade catch up with their peers. This evidence-based program provides individualized instruction to students who are at risk of falling behind in reading. Reading Recovery teachers work one-on-one with students for 30-minute sessions daily, focusing on phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. The program aims to accelerate students’ reading progress and help them become successful readers. Reading Recovery has been shown to be highly effective in improving reading skills and closing the achievement gap for struggling readers.
4. Sonday System
The Sonday System is a comprehensive reading program that is designed to help struggling readers build foundational literacy skills. This program integrates multi-sensory instruction, systematic phonics, and explicit teaching to support students in developing strong decoding and comprehension skills. The Sonday System uses a structured approach to help struggling readers overcome challenges in reading and spelling. By providing step-by-step lessons that target specific areas of need, the Sonday System helps students make significant gains in their reading abilities.
5. Lexia Core5
Lexia Core5 is a web-based reading program that offers personalized instruction to help struggling readers improve their reading skills. This adaptive program provides targeted practice in phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Lexia Core5 uses a data-driven approach to identify each student’s strengths and weaknesses and deliver individualized instruction to address their specific needs. This program is suitable for students of all ages and can be used in school or at home to supplement reading instruction. Lexia Core5 has been proven to be effective in helping struggling readers make significant gains in their literacy skills.
In conclusion, there are several evidence-based reading programs available that can help struggling readers improve their reading skills. Whether a student is struggling with phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency, or comprehension, these programs offer targeted instruction to support their individual needs. By implementing one of these best reading programs for struggling readers, educators can help students develop the foundational literacy skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.