Wilson Reading System® Advanced Strategies for Multisensory Structured Language (MSL) Group Instruction Course

Student teacher reading with students at table

Course Description

This three-day (15-hour) course provides strategies, modeling, and practice as participants learn about the critical aspects of WRS small-group instruction, including how to optimally deliver WRS Lesson Blocks 1, 2, and 3. Participants learn about advanced and differentiated instruction for students to further develop vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency skills. This course prepares participants to implement WRS in a small-group setting, teaches how to properly monitor student progress, and provides the prerequisite for the WRS Group Mastery Practicum.

Mode: Via Zoom, synchronous

Date and time (EST): 

  • October 22, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (with a one-hour break)
  • October 23, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (with a one-hour break)
  • October 24, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (with a one-hour break)

Hours: 15 hours of instruction
Cost: $660
Course number: PRDV 6236P, CRN: 11785

Registration

*IMPORTANT*: The CRN and Course Number will be needed when you register so please make sure to write down this information. Follow the directions listed on the registration site.

Register Here

Registration deadline:  October 8, 2024

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Please Note: 

  • Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to pay for your course. The registration may take 24-48 hours to process.
  • You are required to pay within 48 hours of receiving your course payment email. Not paying for a course does not constitute a withdrawal from the course. You may withdraw prior to the start of a course. Once a course starts, you are not eligible for a refund.

“Wilson Language Training and Wilson® Accredited Training Partners have received the Accreditation Plus designation by the International Dyslexia Association®(IDA). This designation recognizes that Wilson Reading System® certifications align with the IDA’s Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading.”

Blue open book and Wilson Accredited Partner words to right of it

Additional Information

Susan Frank, Wilson® Credentialed Trainer

  • 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.
  • Identify factors for successful WRS small-group instruction.
  • Review the planning for and execution of WRS Lesson Blocks 1, 2, and 3 for maximum small group success.
  • Discuss important considerations for individuals with disabilities in relation to Common Core State Standards.
  • Understand key considerations for determining appropriate grouping/differentiation of students for MSL instruction.
  • Learn how to set up a successful small-group environment.
  • Define and identify core and academic vocabulary and understand how to integrate into WRS lessons.
  • Learn group management and tips for use throughout WRS lessons.
  • Deepen understanding of schwa and how to teach it for reading and spelling.
  • Learn group administration procedures for End-of-Step Assessment and procedures to determine appropriate group progression through WRS Steps.
  • Explain the different purposes of controlled decodable and non-controlled readable text in the development of fluency.
  • Describe three factors of text complexity and explain key factors of quantitative and qualitative measures.
  • Practice WRS Comprehension S.O.S.™ and close reading instruction.
  • Learn comprehension progression in detail for the Steps of WRS, including comprehension strategies employed for the initial phase of WRS comprehension continuum.
  • Understand the importance of listening comprehension instruction with enriched text.
  • Describe different types of narrative and informational texts used in WRS Instruction.
  • Develop different types of comprehension questions, including some that are word, rather than text, dependent.
  • Explain the dimensions of Interactive Comprehension Modeling.
  • Determine how fluency is measured including Words Correct Per Minute (WCPM), accuracy and prosody, and instruction.
  • Develop fluency instruction lessons that include phrasing and prosody.
  • Develop a word-conscious lesson.
  • Determine how to incorporate complex text in both literary and informational text structures.
  • Apply normative data to determine appropriate fluency instruction.
  • Learn how to determine appropriate text and task to foster the development of fluency.
  • Develop strategies to encourage student independence with written work.

WRS Level I Certification or current enrollment & bachelor’s degree in education field preferred, but not required. Note: If currently enrolled in WRS Level I, this course can be taken after observation #3. 

WRS Advanced Strategies for MSL Group Instruction Manual (4th edition). Mailed to participants by Fitchburg State University and included in the course cost.  See “Materials” list below for participant-responsible materials list. 

Materials

  • WRS Instructor Manual Steps 1–6 (sent to student by Fitchburg State--included in course fee)

Remainder of materials are purchased by the student directly from Wilson Language Training

  • Wilson® Assessment of Decoding and Encoding (WADE)
  • WRS Dictation Book Steps 1–6
  • WRS Student Readers 1–3
  • WRS Letter-Sound Cards (Substeps 1.3–3.1)
  • WRS Word Element & Syllable Cards
  • WRS Word Cards (Substeps 1.3–3.1)
  • WRS High Frequency Word Cards (Substeps 2.4–3.1)
  • Magnetic Journal with Letter Tiles (set up for WRS Substep 3.1)
  • WRS Rules Notebook (optional)
  • WRS Student Portfolio (optional)
  • Blank Index Cards
  • Attend all three days of the course.
  • Participate in all course activities, including WRS lesson procedure practice for small-group instruction.
  • Provide workshop feedback via the course evaluation.

Session 1

  • Need for Intensive Intervention
  • Factors for Successful WRS Small-Group Instruction
  • Creating Word Consciousness
  • WRS Lesson Block 1 – Focus on Small-Group Implementation

Session 2

  • Practice WRS Lesson Block 1
  • WRS Lesson Block 2 in a Small-Group Setting
  • Schwa
  • End-of-Step Assessment in a Small-Group Setting

Session 3

  • Block 3: Part 9 – Focus on Small-Group Implementation
  • Block 3: Part 10 – Focus on Initial Phase & Group Implementation
  •  Fluency Instruction in Block 3
  • WRS Group Mastery Practicum & WRS Level II Certification

35 students

Questions? Get in Touch!