The Wilson Reading System
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Student Rules Notebook
Wilson Works!
The Wilson Reading system is a research based reading program. This program uses direct instruction to
teach word structure through decoding and encoding (spelling). It is presented to the student in a
systematic, sequential, cumulative and organized fashion.
The student will be introduced to syllable rules, and their exceptions along with sight words, vocabulary,
reading fluency and comprehension. The goal is for them to become fluent in decoding and encoding
multiple syllable words. Each lesson contains 10 parts using the Wilson principles listed below. Students
learn by hearing sounds; manipulating color-coded sound, syllable, and word cards; use finger tapping;
writing down spoken words; reading aloud and repeating what they have read in their own words; and
hearing others read as well. Each lesson is reinforced through visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile
senses in order to aid mastery.
The following six syllable types are taught:
Closed Syllable
Vowel-Consonant-e Syllable
Open Syllable
Consonant-le Syllable
R-Controlled Syllable
Vowel Digraph/Diphthong “D” Syllable
Listed below are the 10 principles the Wilson program uses:
Teach sounds to automaticity
Teach total word structure – not just sounds
Present concepts within context of controlled, written text
Present the structure of language in a systematic, cumulative manner
Teach all principles of English language structure directly and thoroughly
Teach/re-enforce concepts with visual-auditory-kinesthetic tactile methods
Teach phonemic and syllabic segmentation
Include constant review and repetition
Use questioning techniques for re-enforcement, student error correction and metacognitive
thinking
Use diagnostic teaching within the scope and sequence of program
The Wilson Reading system is a research based reading program. This program uses direct instruction to
teach word structure through decoding and encoding (spelling). It is presented to the student in a
systematic, sequential, cumulative and organized fashion.
The student will be introduced to syllable rules, and their exceptions along with sight words, vocabulary,
reading fluency and comprehension. The goal is for them to become fluent in decoding and encoding
multiple syllable words. Each lesson contains 10 parts using the Wilson principles listed below. Students
learn by hearing sounds; manipulating color-coded sound, syllable, and word cards; use finger tapping;
writing down spoken words; reading aloud and repeating what they have read in their own words; and
hearing others read as well. Each lesson is reinforced through visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile
senses in order to aid mastery.
The following six syllable types are taught:
Closed Syllable
Vowel-Consonant-e Syllable
Open Syllable
Consonant-le Syllable
R-Controlled Syllable
Vowel Digraph/Diphthong “D” Syllable
Listed below are the 10 principles the Wilson program uses:
Teach sounds to automaticity
Teach total word structure – not just sounds
Present concepts within context of controlled, written text
Present the structure of language in a systematic, cumulative manner
Teach all principles of English language structure directly and thoroughly
Teach/re-enforce concepts with visual-auditory-kinesthetic tactile methods
Teach phonemic and syllabic segmentation
Include constant review and repetition
Use questioning techniques for re-enforcement, student error correction and metacognitive
thinking
Use diagnostic teaching within the scope and sequence of program