Why this approach?
SMARTER Reading & Writing follows a systematic and structured approach, based on the Science of Reading, to reading and writing instruction.
This approach is marked by specific activities and components included in each lesson that are key to supporting early readers and writers in developing the skills they need to gain proficiency in literacy.
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Specific activities are designed to build:
phonological awareness (an understanding of the sound structure of our language)
phonics knowledge
vocabulary development
orthographic competency (an understanding of the visual structure of our letters)
reading fluency
reading comprehension
spelling
sentence level and paragraph level writing
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SMARTER Reading & Writing differs from other instructional approaches due to its explicit nature. It focuses on developing key skills for reading and writing in a systematic progression.
This approach equips students with concrete rules for decoding (reading) words and encoding (spelling) words.
Each lesson will move students from the sound level, to the word level, to the sentence level, to the paragraph level, and beyond in order to support the generalization of skills and in order to build fluency.
What is Intervention, and How is it Different Than Tutoring?
Many people think intervention and tutoring are the same when in fact they are very different.
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Tutoring takes place when a person helps another person with something they are working on in class. For example Johnny is is a third grade student struggling with word problems using multiplication. A tutor would help Johnny with his school work at the third grade level.
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Intervention takes place when a person helps another person fill in the gaps that are causing him/her to struggle at the grade level they are in. For example Susie is struggling to read the passage her 2nd grade teacher passed out because she is still struggling with some of her letter sounds. An interventionist would pinpoint Susie's weaknesses, develop a plan, and instruct susie at her level. Once the gaps are filled in, Susie will be more successful in the classroom.