Remedial Learners

Course highlighted

StepsWeb includes the elements needed to enable all learners to succeed. This includes huge amounts of structured, varied reinforcement incorporating reading, spelling, comprehension, grammar, phonics, writing, dictation and proof-reading.

StepsWeb also addresses the key processing and perceptual difficulties involved in dyslexia and other learning disabilities, including:

  • Phonological awareness.
  • Visual and auditory memory skills, including strong emphasis on working memory.
  • Orthographic mapping (needed for genuine reading fluency).

“I currently have 3 students (from my class) who are using StepsWeb. Two have severe dyslexia. For these students, Reading Recovery and phonics programmes have not been successful. In the few months these students have been on StepsWeb, I have seen a massive improvement in their reading fluency and their ability to recognise, read and write high frequency words. I have also seen an improvement in their ability to form letters and words correctly with a significant improvement in spelling also. These children are also much more confident in their ability to learn and be successful, which I believe is now an important part of their learning and progress.”

Ashley Doran, Te Puru School

teaching

Supporting Resources

Supporting resources are particularly important for struggling learners, who usually need significantly more reinforcement.

With these learners, we recommend using the workbooks which accompany the structured literacy Course.

In addition, StepsWeb provides you with access to a huge range of supporting resources, including:

  • Screening Tests.
  • Teaching games and worksheets.
  • Sound Skills Course (auditory discrimination and phonic knowledge).

"Having exercises that specifically work the auditory memory and visual memory is particularly useful. With the inbuilt testing programme, you can analyse errors and track students’ progress….The workbooks are a brilliant support also."

Karen Brumfit, Teacher

Addressing individual needs

We aim to enable every learner to succeed by providing a structured, multi-sensory, research-based approach which addresses all the issues which affect struggling learners.

The core principles of teaching are always the same. The only things which vary are:

  • How much extra reinforcement the learner needs (Beware – we often underestimate this!).
  • Whether the learner needs in-class support, withdrawal or specialist tutoring.
  • What supporting resources are needed.

StepsWeb is ideal for a RTI (Response to Intervention) approach. See our Four-Tier Model below for guidance. Click on individual segments for further information.

The Four-Tier Model

Tier 1

Tier 1 learners have no particular literacy issues. They are not struggling, but all learners benefit from a structured, varied approach which builds the processing skills involved in literacy, as well as covering the literacy content itself.

These learners do not need to be on the workbook courses. They will use StepsWeb as a general support, to enable them to progress quickly and enjoyably, at their own individual speed, and to focus on areas which are particularly relevant to them.

Tier 1 learners may be following one of the set courses, which include grammar, comprehension and vocabulary building. They may also enter their own individual lists, or be doing topic/subject lists set by their teacher.

StepsWeb can be used for extension for able learners needing a challenge!

Tier 2

Tier 2 learners are learners who are not particularly behind, but they are learners who may need a little bit extra. These learners will benefit from extra time on the computer (or at home on StepsWeb) to ensure that they do not fall behind.

Class teachers may prioritise extra time on class computers, or recommend to parents that learners do a bit extra for homework. These learners may do more of the printable activities from StepsWeb. They do not need to be on the workbook courses. However, there is no reason why the workbooks should not be used if they fit into the class routine. All learners benefit from the extra structure and reinforcement.

Tier 2 learners may be following one of the set courses, which include grammar, comprehension and vocabulary building. They may also enter their own individual lists, or be doing topic/subject lists set by their teacher.

Tier 3

Tier 3 learners are those who have been identified as having relatively mild difficulties. They may be up to a year behind their peers. These learners should be on the workbook courses, or using StepsWeb to support a similarly structured remedial literacy course.

Tier 3 learners are likely to benefit from some form of withdrawal, although this may be in relatively large groups because they don’t need very high levels of teacher support. However, it is important to monitor these learners closely. The most common difficulty in schools is underestimating a learner’s needs and not providing enough structure and reinforcement.

Tier 4

Tier 4 learners have moderate to high needs. They may be dyslexic or have other processing difficulties, including developmental delays. These learners need to be in small groups (ideally no more than 3 learners) and a small proportion may need individual tuition for a period.

These learners need to be on the workbook courses, ideally supported by the game/activity resources (Schools Gameset Pack materials). This is because learners in this category have processing difficulties, including weaknesses in aspects such as phonological awareness, visual perception and memory. They need considerable reinforcement and this is often best provided through games and hands-on activities.

The Schools Gameset Pack provides a huge range of games and activities which focus on phonological awareness, language processing and memory. They also build phonic and orthographic knowledge and an awareness of word families.

Caution: One of the biggest mistakes with these learners is moving too fast and not checking to ensure that knowledge/skills are being retained! Each learner has to move at his/her own pace!

Activities screen

Home Support

One of the biggest frustrations for specialist teachers or tutors is that there is a limit to what can be achieved in a limited time-frame – however good your teaching is.

StepsWeb enables you to set work to be done from home or in class between sessions. Even a small amount of consolidation between lessons can make a huge difference.

There’s even a Holiday Reinforcement Program, designed to stop learners falling behind again over the long summer holidays.