The Power of Using AcceleratED Learning for Literacy Instruction

In literacy education, achieving a comprehensive approach that addresses all aspects of reading and writing is crucial. AcceleratED learning combines all effective components of literacy instruction and offers a structured yet dynamic way to ensure students become proficient readers and writers. This program leverages the principles of Structured Literacy while embedding multisensory activities to support diverse learners. Let’s explore how AcceleratED Learning integrates these components to create an effective, predictable, and engaging learning environment.

Key Components of AcceleratED Learning in Literacy Instruction

1. Sound Review of Previously Taught Skills:
   • Each lesson begins with a review of previously taught sounds. This reinforces memory and ensures that foundational skills are solid before introducing new content.
2. Sound Dictation:
   • Students practice previously learned sound patterns, reinforcing their ability to recognize and use these patterns in reading and writing.
3. Targeted Phonological Awareness Skill:
   • Lessons include activities focused on phonological awareness, targeting specific skills where students need more support.
   • Skill Focus Area:
     1. Each lesson targets a specific skill that students need more support with, ensuring personalized instruction that addresses individual learning gaps.
4. Explicit Teaching of New Patterns:
   • New spelling or phonics patterns are introduced explicitly. The teacher provides clear explanations and examples, ensuring students understand how the new pattern works.
5. Explicit Modeling Using Decoding Strategies:
   • Teachers model decoding strategies, showing students how to approach and read new words using the patterns they have learned.
6. Word Fluency with Patterns:
   • Students practice reading words that incorporate the new pattern, building their fluency and confidence with these words.
7. Word Writing:
   • Writing activities that incorporate the new spelling pattern help reinforce learning and provide practice in applying the new knowledge.
8. Heart Words Aligned to Spelling Patterns:
   • “Heart words” (high-frequency words) that align with the new spelling pattern are introduced.
9. Comprehension at the Word Level:
   • Comprehension activities begin at the word level, ensuring students understand the meaning of the words they are learning to read and write.
   • Semantic mapping activities help students understand and remember these words.
10. Fluency Phrases with Heart Words:
    • Students practice reading phrases that include heart words, helping to develop their reading fluency and automaticity.
11. Decodable Texts with Spelling Patterns:
    • Students read decodable texts that incorporate the new spelling pattern. These texts provide practice in applying decoding strategies in context.
12. Content Passages Beyond CVC Level:
    • As students progress, they are introduced to content passages that go beyond simple consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) patterns, challenging them with more complex texts.
13. Comprehension with Decodables and Content Passages:
    • Both decodable texts and content passages include comprehension activities, ensuring students not only decode words but also understand the text.
14. Sentence Dictation with Spelling Patterns:
    • Dictation exercises that include the new spelling patterns help reinforce spelling skills and provide practice in writing complete sentences.
15. Oral Language Activities:
    • Oral language activities are integrated into lessons to develop speaking and listening skills, supporting overall language development.
16. Multisensory Activities:
    • Lessons include multisensory activities, such as using manipulatives, movement, and visual aids, to support all learners and reinforce learning through multiple modalities.

Reducing Cognitive Load and Enhancing Predictability

One of the key benefits of AcceleratED Learning is its predictable structure. By including all these components in every lesson, students know what to expect, reducing cognitive load and anxiety. The only variable is the new pattern introduced in each lesson, allowing students to focus on mastering the new content without being overwhelmed by changes in the lesson structure.

Conclusion

AcceleratED learning offers a robust, comprehensive approach to literacy instruction that integrates all essential components: phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. By maintaining a consistent lesson structure and embedding multisensory activities, this approach supports diverse learners, reduces cognitive load, and ensures that every student has the tools they need to become proficient readers and writers.