Reading Intervention Programs: A Comparative Chart
If you are planning to purchase an intervention program for instruction, get as much information as you can about a program's benefits and effectiveness. This article provides basic comparative information about a range of commercially available intervention programs.
Educators work tirelessly to meet the academic needs of all students. An important part of instruction for struggling students is the use of the right intervention at the right time. With so many packaged intervention programs out there, it is difficult to keep up with them all.
Intervention programs for five components of literacy (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, vocabulary) are included in the tables below. Columns within the matrix indicate the appropriate RTI tiers, approximate grade levels, most effective instructional format, instructional technology, embedded assessment, and related article or instructional strategy connections. (Find more information about Response to Intervention and the characteristics of the tiers in this article.)
Many of the programs listed below have been reviewed by the What Works Clearinghouse and research centers such as the Florida Center for Reading Research and the Best Evidence Encyclopedia. Several also appear on statewide recommended intervention lists. Multiple research studies have demonstrated that the intervention programs listed below are capable of producing positive academic effects.
This article is also available as a PDF. Download PDF >
Key to the charts
RTI Tier
Tier 1: This program is supplemental and is meant to enhance the core program for all students.
Tier 2: This program is to be used to prevent or remediate skill deficits for students who are somewhat below grade level.
Tier 3: This program is to be used intensively for students who are significantly below grade level.
GL: Grade Level
These are the grade level(s) in which a program will be most useful and has been proven to be effective.
IF: Instructional Format
This is the instructional format for the program:
1:1 with a licensed teacher or specialist
1:1 with a teacher, paraprofessional, or volunteer
Small group tutorials
IT: Instructional Technology
This program offers instructional technology. Some of the programs listed use technology as the main source of instruction, while others offer instructional technology as a supplement to the program.
EAP: Embedded Assessment Piece
This program offers an embedded assessment piece.
Related articles and strategies
Learn about instructional classroom strategies and resources that support phonemic awareness, phonological awareness, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary.
Phonemic Awareness
Phonics
Fluency
| RTI Tier | GL | IF | IT | EAP | Contact and Purchasing Information | Related multimedia | Related articles and strategies | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Read Naturally | 2,3 | 2-5 | |
X | X | http://bit.ly/5EQlog | http://bit.ly/evb5Q7 | Reading 101: Fluency |
| Great Leaps | 2,3 | 1-5 | |
X | http://bit.ly/fNVomc | None available | Fluency articles | |
| Quick Reads | 2,3 | 2-5 | |
X | X | http://bit.ly/dMlPuJ | http://bit.ly/fq8a52 | Fluency: Instructional Guidelines and Student Activities |
| Corrective Reading- level a | 2,3 | 1-4 | |
X | http://bit.ly/18Qq0r | http://bit.ly/gpcBRe | Classroom Strategies: Fluency | |
| Open Court | 1,2,3 | 1-5 | |
X | http://bit.ly/6dL6Qt | http://bit.ly/e0eWBy | Classroom Strategies: Fluency | |
| Read Well | 2,3 | K-3 | |
X | X | http://ow.ly/n2Kp303t0lR | http://bit.ly/dTuaWw | Developing Fluent Readers |
| Voyager Universal Literacy System | 1,2 | K-3 | |
X | X | http://bit.ly/dFw8tc | None available | Two Methods for Developing Fluency |
| Horizons Fast Track | 2,3 | 3-8 | |
|
X | http://bit.ly/hNpjiw | None available | What Works in Fluency Instruction |
Comprehension
Vocabulary
| RTI Tier | GL | IF | IT | EAP | Contact and Purchasing Information | Related multimedia | Related articles and strategies | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Language for Learning | 2,3 | K-5 | |
X | http://bit.ly/re25MZ | http://bit.ly/e5EJT4 | Reading 101: Vocabulary | |
| Vocabulary for Achievement | 2,3 | 3-5 | |
X | http://bit.ly/gne3oL | None available | Teaching Vocabulary | |
| Accelerated Vocabulary | 1,2,3 | K-6 | |
http://amzn.to/hraeQa | None available | Target the Problem: Vocabulary | ||
| Breakthrough to Literacy | 1,2,3 | K-4 | |
X | http://bit.ly/g4gF5r | None available | Classroom Strategies: Possible Sentences | |
| Kaleidoscope | 1,2,3 | K-4 | |
X | http://bit.ly/o7qNgE | None available | Classroom Strategies: Word Maps | |
| Language for Thinking | 1,2,3 | 2-6 | |
X | http://bit.ly/re25MZ | None available | Vocabulary Instruction for Reading Comprehension | |
| Read Well | 2,3 | K-5 | |
X | X | http://ow.ly/n2Kp303t0lR | http://bit.ly/dTuaWw | Classroom Strategies: Vocabulary |
| Voyager Passport | 1,2,3 | K-8 | |
X | X | http://ow.ly/oxkw303sZZt | None available | Vocabulary articles |
About the author
Corrie Kelly has worked as a 3rd grade teacher, a literacy specialist, and a reading intervention specialist. She received a B.A in English Literature, an NK-6 teaching licensure from Mary Washington, and an M.Ed in Reading Education from the University of Virginia. Corrie is an active researcher and she blogs regularly about her teaching experiences and educational issues and events. Currently, Corrie is a literacy intervention specialist in Albemarle County, VA and teaches reading courses as an adjunct instructor through the University of Virginia's TEMPO Outreach program.
Reprints
Comments
Check out Failure Free Reading for your Tier 3 students, who are 'phailing with fonics.' 9 Published Peer Review studies and also favorably listed on the National Center on Intensive Intervention's list of Elem and Sec Tier II & III Interventions.
Remediation Plus Systems-grade 1-2
Is there one program that covers all 5 components of literacy?
Would be interested in your opinion on the programs from Really Great Reading.
Thanks
95% - tough to beat
Would also invite reading teachers to check out Pennington Publishing's Teaching Reading Strategies. Designed for older readers, this Tier 2 and 3 assessment-based program is a half-year intensive or full year intervention with online expository fluency practice, comprehension development, syllabication, sound-spelling blending, and phonemic awareness workshops. The accompanying reading and spelling game cards and Sam and Friends Phonics Books are just what grades 4-adult readers need to catch up to grade level reading.
Agree! 95% Group's Phonological Awareness Blueprint lessons, phonics and multisyllabic phonics lessons are hard to beat! Great results!
People may want to check out the what works clearinghouse directly for programs that are not "Commercially Available"
Has there been any research on your end for the Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Learning Intervention Program?
Our school is switching to Amplify's Burst.... I am looking for others who have tried this program and their experiences?
I'm looking for an intervention program like these ones that teach readers Spanish.
I have used LLI for the past few years and have had success with my students
Reading Recovery in grade 1 -- Jan Richardson lesson plan with Snap leveled readers for classroom - unbeatable combo
Our school uses Reading Recovery with very positive results.
Are there plans to add links to any efficacy reports on these programs?
SNAP! Reading offers interactive leveled books for reading intervention, guided reading and supplemental reading at a very low cost. Visit www.snaplearning.net for more information. Perfect for Summer Reading Programs!
interesting that Readers workshop does NOT appear...this is what our county uses and does NOT offer anything different for LD students.
Lexia is also a nice web-based program that individualizes and can be used for all tiers of RTI.
A new RTI solution that uses a mobile device to deliver, practice, and assess is now available. Visit www.snaplearning.net for more information
Wilson Language and Orton-Gillingham are also excellent programs
Add comment
New and Popular
Our Literacy Blogs
I downloaded the chart and I noticed that it is dated 2011. Are there any plans to update and revise this intervention chart, in the near future? Thanks!