Program Description
Phonological awareness is a foundational skill upon which other reading skills are built. When students don’t master phonological awareness, it can affect their future progress in the other essential components of reading. Early intervention is essential to help struggling readers develop the skills to read successfully and the Phonological Awareness Deluxe Package exists to help teachers provide that critical instruction. The program offers explicit, systematic instruction for Pre-K – 1st grade students in a format that is accessible to children and easy to implement for their teachers.
Program Outcomes
Two studies of Phonological Awareness Lessons (PA Lessons) were carried out in the same California school district during the 2021–2022 and 2022-2023 school years. In the first study, a total of 8 schools and more than 400 kindergarten students participated in this quasi-experimental study, where treatment schools used PA Lessons with students identified as Below or Well Below Benchmark on an early literacy screening assessment. Students were tested with the Phonological Awareness Screener for Intervention every three weeks as part of the implementation to target instruction. Compared to comparison schools, schools that used PA Lessons had significantly increased composite scores on the Acadience Reading assessment (effect size = +0.21). These findings were replicated in the second study with over 500 kindergarten students, 40% ELL and 88% from diverse ethnic/racial backgrounds, from 11 schools. After one year, schools that used PA Lessons had significantly increased composite scores than comparison schools on the Acadience Reading assessment (effect size = +0.74). Across the two studies, both designated with an ESSA Moderate rating, the average effect size = +0.49.
Staffing Requirements
Best used in small group settings with 1 teacher to 4-5 students.
Professional Development/Training
90-minute virtual training.
Technology
None required.