Learning Techniques, Ltd.

Diagnostic Evaluation & Instruction for Children & Adults

Wilson Certification

Why Wilson Certification

The Wilson Reading System®(WRS) is a highly-structured multisensory language program based on Orton-Gillingham principles and philosophy for teaching reading and spelling. The teaching plan is based on continuous assessment of the students’ needs.

A critical factor for student success is teacher knowledge. Teachers must have an in-depth knowledge of the speech sound system and must know how our written language represents spoken English. In addition to language structure, teachers also need to master how to teach using multisensory and diagnostic techniques.

WRS is successful with students who have a language-based learning disability, such as dyslexia, as well as those who are reading below grade level because of word-level deficits. It is strongly recommended that students who require intensive instruction receive instruction with a highly-skilled WRS teacher.

Steps to Receive Certification

Step 1 - Wilson Reading System® Introductory Workshop / Applied Methods

The Wilson Reading System® is a comprehensive remedial program for students in grades

2-12 and adults needing intensive intervention. This 15-hour introductory workshop provides

hands-on practice and application of skills with the WRS Lesson Plan to effectively begin

implementing the program.

Workshop Topics

• Reading research

• Principles of language structure

• How the WRS addresses the five areas of reading

• Program implementation

• Student placement, progress monitoring, and scheduling

• Creating a successful classroom environment

• Participants write lesson plans and practice lesson procedures

Graduate Credit

Fitchburg State University (FSU), located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, offers graduate credit for Wilson Reading System® professional development. Should you choose to earn credit, you will register directly with FSU, but only upon completion of the course or course part.  Please visit www.wilsonlanguage.com/FS_PD_Graduate_Credit.htm for more information.

Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) approved CPDU Provider.

Applied Methods Workshop = 15 CPDU's

Enrollment

Click on Workshop Registration for availability

Step 2 - Wilson Reading System® Level I

The Level I Certification is designed to prepare teachers to effectively implement Steps 1-6 to assist students reading and spelling below grade level and those diagnosed with a language-based learning disability. Participants will demonstrate mastery of the Wilson lesson plan, including multisensory techniques and effective strategies in a 1:1 setting.

Prerequisite

Participants must have completed the WRS Introductory Workshop / Applied Methods within the last five years.

Completion Requirements

WRS teachers enrolled in certification must complete all requirements of the program to be WRS Level I Certified. The following must be completed to obtain WRS Level I Certification:

• Completion of Word Study (WRS Steps 1-6) Online Course and Practicum within the school        year.

• Practicum: 1:1 Student Instruction with a minimum of 60 lessons of instruction with a lesson

  plan written for each lesson (student must be approved by Wilson Trainer)     

• Five Teacher / Student Observations, as scheduled by the Wilson Trainer (each observation      approximately one hour in length)

• Pretesting report, including educational history and current test results of practicum student

• Development of teacher’s and student’s notebook and student’s written work in accordance       with WLT program standards

• Demonstration of mastered lesson plan procedures (documented and approved by Wilson       Trainer)

• Demonstration of understanding of language concepts through accurate teaching with                 multisensory procedures

• Demonstration of student success and mastery of decoding/encoding skills

• Posttesting and submission of practicum student report after a minimum of 60 lessons and         achievement of Step 4.2      

Upon Completion

Participants who have demonstrated mastery of the Wilson lesson plan, including multisensory techniques and effective strategies for working 1:1, will receive a WRS Level I certificate. Participants completing this program may represent themselves as Wilson Level I certified tutors, but are not qualified as Wilson Trainers.

Graduate Credit

Fitchburg State University (FSU), located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, offers graduate credit for Wilson Reading System® professional development. Should you choose to earn credit, you will register directly with FSU, but only upon completion of the course or course part.  Please visit www.wilsonlanguage.com/FS_PD_Graduate_Credit.htm for more information.

Enrollment

Click on Contact Us to request information

Step 3 - Advanced Wilson Reading System® Courses Level II

Advanced WRS Courses

Advanced coursework provides in-depth strategies to implement multisensory structured language instruction successfully in group settings and advanced levels of decoding and encoding.

Successful completion of all advanced courses currently offered (Advanced Strategies for MSL Instruction, WRS Group Mastery Practicum, Advanced Word Study, and WRS Steps 7-12 Practicum) results in WRS Level II Certification.

Advanced Word Study (WRS Steps 7-12) Online Course

Provides instruction in advanced concepts of decoding and spelling to effectively use multisensory techniques to teach more complicated rules of the English language. The Advanced Word Study course is aligned with the skill-building sequence of the WRS Steps

7-12.

Prerequisites

Completion of WRS Basic Words Study (Steps 1-6) Online Course, a Bachelor’s Degree in education or a related field.

Enrollment

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Clinical: WRS Steps 7-12 Practicum

This practicum requires successful delivery of 50 lessons (at minimum) with an approved student beginning at Substep 7.1 and reaching Substep 10.3 or higher, and submission of two videotaped lessons for observation and feedback.

Prerequisites

WRS Level I Certification, a Bachelor’s Degree in education or a related field, and completion of or current enrollment in the Advanced Word Study Online Course.

Enrollment

Click on Contact Us to request information

Advanced Strategies in Multisensory Structured Language Instruction (WRS Group Mastery) Workshop

This course provides strategies to improve all aspects of WRS group instruction through hands-on practice and discussion, and prepares participants for the WRS Group Mastery Practicum. (Duration is 10 program hours).

Prerequisites

Level I Certification and a Bachelor’s Degree in education or a related field.

Enrollment

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Clinical: WRS Group Mastery Practicum

This practicum requires successful delivery of 50 lessons (at minimum) with an approved group of three to six students reaching Substep 3.1 or higher, and submission of two videotaped lessons for observation and feedback.

Prerequisites

WRS Level I Certification, a Bachelor’s Degree in education or a related field, and completion of or current enrollment in Advanced Strategies in Multisensory Structured Language Instruction (WRS Group Mastery) Workshop.

Enrollment

Click on Contact Us to request information