Students across the country are falling behind their grade level in reading skills, and the gaps have become even more pronounced in the post-pandemic era.
This decline in reading proficiency can have significant academic and social implications. Reading is a fundamental part of communication, and when students struggle with literacy, it affects their performance in all subjects, including extracurricular activities. Such difficulties can lead to students becoming withdrawn in the classroom and within their social circles, and they may experience anxiety and depression. In some cases, students may even refuse to attend school.
Reading and literacy remediation programs are designed to help students improve their reading skills. Programs that incorporate the Science of Reading generally focus on the five key facets of literacy:
- Phonemic awareness: The ability to recognize and manipulate the sounds (phonemes) that make up words.
- Phonics: Understanding the relationship between letters or groups of letters and the sounds they represent.
- Fluency: The ability to read and speak smoothly, without needing to pause and decode each word.
- Vocabulary: The set of words a reader knows and can identify. A larger vocabulary helps students understand more texts and grasp their nuances.
- Comprehension: The ability to fully understand a text, including its meaning and message. This is often assessed through questions about the text or by summarizing it in the student’s own words.
In this post, we’ll explore 8 of the best reading intervention programs. We’ll start with our own reading program at Fusion Academy, which combines self-paced software, direct teacher instruction and soft skills development.
Best Reading Intervention Programs
- Fusion Academy
- Read Live
- Kumon
- Voyager Passport
- Read 180
- Nessy
- Wilson Reading System
- Visualizing and Verbalizing®
To learn more about Fusion Academy, feel free to take a look at our website or watch video reviews from real parents and students.
1. Fusion Academy
Reading intervention programs are often software-based and self-paced, allowing students to work on their reading skills at their own speed outside of school hours.
While these programs can be beneficial, they may not be as effective as those that combine self-study with direct instruction from a teacher. Self-paced programs can focus solely on the curriculum without addressing individual challenges that students may face.
Struggles with reading can lead to insecurity, depression, and anxiety, making it difficult for many students to stay motivated. At Fusion Academy, we address these issues with a unique approach to personalized education.
We’re a private middle and high school offering a 1-to-1 learning model, where each student works individually with their teacher. This setup allows for tailored lessons that meet each student’s specific needs. Our programs can be delivered in person at one of our 80+ campuses, online through Fusion Global Academy, or in a hybrid format.
Fusion’s 1-to-1 model is particularly effective for students who are struggling in traditional classroom settings and have fallen behind in literacy. We support students with dyslexia, ADHD/ADD, or those who simply need to learn at their own pace.
We offer two reading intervention programs, with placement based on the student’s percentile from a standardized MAP test taken during enrollment:
- Reading Skills and Strategies: Our flagship program designed for students in the 15th to 40th percentile. Students below the 15th percentile have also found success with this program, though it’s not specifically tailored for that group.
- Structured Literacy: Currently in pilot at 30 campuses nationwide, this program targets students in the 15th percentile or lower.
Note: If a MAP test isn’t suitable for your child, we can provide recommendations for one of the above programs based on teacher or parent feedback, or alternative neurological testing methods.
Reading Skills and Strategies
Reading Skills and Strategies is a comprehensive literacy intervention program designed to address all aspects of reading success:
- Self-study through an online platform.
- Direct instruction from a teacher on a 1-to-1 basis.
- Soft skills development to increase intrinsic motivation and executive functioning.
For the online component, Fusion Academy partnered with Lexia, a leader in evidence-based literacy solutions with 40 years of experience. Lexia’s PowerUp Literacy software breaks literacy into three key strands: word study, comprehension skills, and grammar.
Unlike other self-paced programs that rely solely on student-driven learning, Lexia’s AI-based software allows for flexible transitions between self-directed study and teacher-led instruction, adapting to the student’s needs.
The program typically begins with a placement test to pinpoint the student’s reading gaps, helping both the student and teacher determine the appropriate grade level.
Each 50-minute lesson generally includes:
- 20–25 minutes of direct literacy instruction from the teacher.
- 25–30 minutes of supervised self-study using the online platform.
The Student Experience
Students appreciate having their teacher available to assist them when they encounter challenges. Lexia, the online platform used in the program, is designed to be engaging and enjoyable, featuring colorful games and interactive elements that students find motivating, whether they’re using it with or without their teacher.
Students can track their progress through various features, including:
- Current streaks and completed levels.
- Time spent on tasks for the day.
- A roadmap of their curriculum.
Before starting lessons, students take an auto-placement test covering three strands:
- Comprehension
- Word Study
- Grammar
Based on their performance, the system uses machine learning to guide their focus, adjusting the amount of time and units they should complete.
Students can switch between strands as they progress:
The program includes interactive activities and questions that challenge students to think critically and apply their learning.
These features help maintain their engagement and deepen their understanding of the material.
We recommend students attend two lessons per week and complete a total of 30 hours of instruction to finish the program. This can be accomplished in 25 to 30 designated sessions.
In addition to the two weekly classes, we suggest students dedicate an extra hour per week for independent study. Each Fusion campus offers a Homework Café, a dedicated space for quiet, focused study.
A few of our students studying in the Homework Café
How Teachers Use Lexia
Lexia equips teachers with valuable resources to provide direct instruction based on student needs. For example, teachers can monitor how students are advancing through the program, including their performance since the initial placement test.
Accomplishments are highlighted in blue cells for easy identification.
Lexia offers a clear breakdown of student progress across individual topics, allowing teachers to understand specific areas of strength and areas needing improvement.
If a student struggles with a particular lesson, Lexia flags this issue to alert the teacher. Teachers can then access resources within Lexia to assist the student in overcoming challenges.
Soft Skills
In addition to direct instruction, each class emphasizes building essential soft skills. The teacher’s dashboard includes a soft skills section to track and support these areas.
Social-emotional learning (SEL) is crucial because it supports all forms of learning and addresses the broader factors contributing to reading struggles, including literacy skills.
Key aspects of building soft skills include:
- Emotional self-awareness: Checking in with students at the start of each class to assess their emotional state and readiness for learning.
- Self-confidence: Recognizing and celebrating students’ strengths and successes in reading to boost their confidence.
- Time management: Assisting students in finding time to work on Lexia outside of class to ensure consistent progress.
- Meta-cognition: Helping students understand their own learning styles and leveraging this awareness to enhance their learning experience.
These soft skills are integral to the student’s overall development and success in the program.
Fusion Academy’s Structured Literacy Program
Structured Literacy is a specialized reading intervention program designed for students who are in the 15th percentile or lower for their grade level in reading ability. Currently, this program is being piloted at 30 Fusion Academy locations across the country.
Based on the Orton-Gillingham approach, which was originally developed for students with dyslexia, Structured Literacy takes a multisensory approach to reading instruction. Unlike programs that use software like Lexia, Orton-Gillingham incorporates auditory, kinesthetic, and visual methods to teach reading fundamentals.
For example, teachers may use gel boards or create knocking sounds to demonstrate spelling and word formation.
Example of a gel board
This multisensory approach is particularly beneficial for students below the 15th percentile, as it helps them stay engaged and focused, especially when traditional classroom settings may not suit their learning needs. It’s also helpful for students who speak English as a second language and face challenges with reading, though it’s not specifically designed for non-native speakers.
At the time of this writing, our Structured Literacy Program is still being piloted, but is available in 30 campuses nationwide. If you’re interested in this program, please reach out to us to find out if it’s offered at a campus near you.
2. Read Live
A subscription to Read Live by Read Naturally provides access to a comprehensive bundle of four programs, each designed to enhance reading fluency, support literacy development, and achieve mastery. Students progress through a series of 23 levels, with 12–24 stories per level, working mostly independently.
Read Live features a scoring system that enables students to track their progress without the stress of traditional tests, which can be daunting for struggling readers. Parents and teachers can access detailed reports to monitor progress and make informed instructional decisions.
Additionally, Read Live offers the option to practice literacy skills in both English and Spanish, providing a bilingual learning experience.
3. The Kumon Reading Program
The Kumon Reading Program is based on a series of proprietary worksheets. Students attend 30-minute classes at a Kumon center twice a week and complete additional assignments at home on the other five days. A placement test determines where each child begins, allowing staff to benchmark their reading level.
The program covers essential skills such as vocabulary, grammar, sentence building, and reading comprehension. Students work at their own pace, with flexibility to focus on areas that need improvement.
4. Voyager Passport
Voyager Passport by Voyager Sopris Learning is a research-based reading intervention program designed for students in grades K–5. The program features 30-minute lessons that can be incorporated into self-study, tutoring, or classroom settings. It provides targeted instruction in the five facets of reading, as well as language and writing skills.
To support students in deepening their understanding outside of structured lessons, Voyager Passport offers a variety of online resources. These include an interactive eBook, a sound library, handwriting videos, and audio recordings. Educators can also benefit from access to high-quality materials for lesson planning, such as take-home readers, graphic organizers, videos, and activity suggestions.
5. Read 180
Read 180 is an adaptive reading intervention program designed for students in grades 3 through 12. Utilizing a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS), the program addresses a range of needs, from students slightly behind grade level to those several grades behind.
Typically integrated into a whole-class setting, Read 180 also includes a student app that allows learners to track their progress and observe their growth over time.
By leveraging the latest research in reading science, Read 180 aims to help struggling students develop up to two years worth of foundational reading skills within a single year, allowing them to catch up with their peers.
6. Nessy
Nessy is an early intervention program designed for children aged 6–11, though it can also be used by middle school students. This highly gamified platform features engaging audio-visual materials and games. Children earn “Nessy nuggets” through their activities, which can be exchanged for trophies and additional games.
The program begins with a playful assessment known as the “Nessy Challenge” to determine each student’s reading level. Based on the results, students receive a personalized learning plan and can progress at their own pace.
Nessy also offers hundreds of downloadable worksheets and flashcards, allowing parents to use the resources offline if desired.
7. Wilson Reading System (WRS)
The Wilson Reading System (WRS) is designed to support students in grades 2–12 who face significant reading challenges. As an intensive tier 3 intervention in the multi-tiered system of support (MTSS), WRS is well-suited for students with severe dyslexia who haven’t found success with other programs.
Based on Orton-Gillingham principles, similar to Fusion’s Structured Literacy program, WRS is grounded in the latest reading research. It provides students with foundational skills that can significantly impact their future academic and professional development.
It’s also worth noting that the program has demonstrated success in addressing adult illiteracy.
8. Visualizing and Verbalizing® (V/V)
Developed by Lindamood-Bell, an organization with 30 years of experience in supporting literacy, Visualizing and Verbalizing (V/V) is an evidence-based program designed for children who struggle with concept imagery. This difficulty involves creating mental images of what words or groups of words signify, and it’s sometimes misdiagnosed as ADHD or autism.
V/V is available at over 50 learning centers nationwide and involves an intensive commitment of four hours a day, five days a week, designed to achieve rapid results. For families seeking a less demanding schedule, Lindamood-Bell also offers seasonal learning camps during school holidays.
A Reading Intervention Program to Help Your Child Reach Their Full Potential
Fusion Academy’s reading intervention program stands out by integrating a self-paced learning platform with personalized teacher instruction and soft skills support.
We’re confident in our ability to help your child improve their reading skills, regardless of their current level.
To enroll your child in our reading intervention program or to learn more, reach out to us today.
