Implementation Guidelines for Reading Horizons v5

Whether you're a secondary special education teacher, instructor at a corrections facility or tutor in an adult literacy center, the Reading Horizons program can adapt to suit your needs.

Implementation Suggestions

• Establish a schedule that allows time for students to work independently on the computer and to receive teacher lead direct instruction sessions.
• Recommended student time on computer for best results is 30–40 minutes per day, at least three days per week. It is imperative that student records are setup appropriately in the Administration System. There are a series of options to cater the curriculum for student needs, see User Manual for more details.
• Instructors should offer direct instruction help to individuals or small groups while remaining students work autonomously on the computer. Direct instruction materials are included to provide group review with all students.
• To gain full benefit from the program, students must practice by reading daily. The Reading Horizons v5 Library provides leveled passages on the computer and in hard copy format.
• Some students may complete the reading program more rapidly than others due to the rate at which they learn.
• Most students will see at least two grade levels of improvement in the 40–60 hours that it takes to complete the program. Many students will see as many as 3–5 grade levels of improvement in reading ability. Student spelling skills will also improve dramatically.

Other Standards and Recommendations

• Set up student records in the teacher-friendly Administration system.
• Administer the Reading Horizons Assessment. The curriculum will be customized accordingly.
• Students are required to move through the lessons sequentially. Each lesson has the capability of providing extra exercises for students who are struggling with a specific concept. Students will also have the option of testing out of lesson material by passing the Skill Check at the beginning of each lesson.
• Six Chapter Tests monitor student progress and understanding of concepts. Chapter Test reports are available on demand and provide the instructor with a diagnostic for each student and every skill tested. Concepts are automatically set to be reviewed for students who exhibit an inadequate understanding.
• The amount of time it takes to finish the software is entirely dependent on student competency. Many students will advance through the lessons quickly as they prove proficiency through the Skill Check feature. Time spent in the Vocabulary section solidifying decoding skills and building vocabulary and in the Library improving fluency and comprehension is dependent on administrative settings and student needs.
• Where appropriate, individual lessons or tests may be overridden by the administrator.
• If a student is interrupted, lessons are bookmarked for completion at a later date.