Sound Partners training is designed for K-2, Title I, and Resource Teachers and their Paraprofessional.  Sound Partners is a way to provide individual instruction in essential early reading skills to the children who need it most, while also leaving classroom teachers free to work with other students.

Through the Sound Partners program, Paraprofessionals are trained as phonics tutors. These tutors then work with students for just 30 minutes a day, using the easy-to-implement Sound Partners lessons. This simple, research-tested approach produces strong improvement in word attack, word identification, spelling, and other skills necessary for reading well.

Sound Partners offers what many experts advocate: a practical and balanced approach that includes instruction in isolated decoding skills and meaning-based learning through scaffolded storybook reading.

• Clear, comprehensive tutor-training procedures
• Can be used with young children, early elementary students, or with older students who lack letter-sound knowledge and decoding skills
• Fast-paced, engaging activities that are interesting for both students and tutors
• Perfect for schools with limited resources and staff

Sound Partners is a field-tested program proven to increase word attack, word identification, and spelling skills, and is a perfect complement to Stepping Stones to Literacy. It includes over 100 scripted lessons that paraprofessionals can use to provide one-on-one instruction to young students who may be struggling with reading.

1. Couples isolated decoding instruction with meaning-based learning
2. Gives struggling readers critical individual attention
3. Allows teachers to continue uninterrupted instruction

Students apply their isolated decoding skills and build fluency with the Decodable Readers—scaffolded storybooks introduced in the second half of the tutoring session.

To read more about Sound Partners, visit their website
http://www.wri-edu.org/partners/sound-partners.htm

To read more about Sound Partners Kindergarten, visit this link
http://www.wri-edu.org/partners/
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Please address additional questions to Becky Brandl
bbrandl@esu8.org or call 887-5041