CPS Adopts New Phonics & Spelling Curriculum, Dyslexia Intervention Program

Cabot Public Schools is proud to announce we have adopted the Brainspring Phonics First (K-4) and Structures (5-6) as our phonics and spelling curriculum and K-6 dyslexia intervention program.  Now you may be wondering, what does this all mean?

In 2016, the Arkansas Department of Education released education rules governing how to meet the needs of children with dyslexia. Dyslexia involves difficulty in learning to read or interpret words, letters, and other symbols. The law requires districts to screen all K-2 students and any student in 3rd grade and above if they have difficulty in certain areas.

In 2017, Governor Asa Hutchinson and the Department of Education launched the Reading Initiative for Student Excellence or R.I.S.E. The focus of this campaign is to encourage community partners, parents, and teachers to build an importance of reading in homes, schools, and communities, and to inspire students to becoming lifelong readers and learners.

The Cabot School District made it a top priority to strengthen our current reading and spelling program while making sure we were not only meeting the requirements of the dyslexia law and R.I.S.E. initiative, but also making an impact on our students. That's where Phonics First and Structures comes in. Phonics is a method of teaching reading and writing. It's essential for helping children begin to read and spell. 

Administrators and teachers have done extensive research on this nationally accredited curriculum. From launching a pilot group at Ward Central Elementary to visiting nearby school districts using this system, the district believes Phonics First® and Structures will have a positive impact on our children. 

In January 2018, Cabot School District teachers began intensive training on the new program. The district has invested over $250,000 in the program and believes it has the strong potential to make not only an immediate, but a long-term impact on student success. All of our Pre-K-4 teachers and literacy teachers in grades 5-6 have completed the training.

Brainspring describes its program as, “Orton-Gillingham based and accredited by both the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) and the International Multi-sensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC). Orton-Gillingham is an instructional approach intended primarily for use with individuals who have difficulty with reading, spelling, and writing associated with dyslexia. Phonics First® and Structures meets the needs of a wide range of students, including beginning, at-risk, and struggling elementary readers and those K-12 students identified as dyslexic and/or learning disabled.”

We believe implementing this program will provide a deeper understanding of how to reach every learner. “It's about KIDS,” and we are excited about this new adventure and pleased to implement this dynamic new curriculum at the Cabot School District.

Pre-K-4 teachers and literacy teachers in grades 5-6 have completed training on a new phonics & spelling curriculum and dyslexia intervention program. It will have a positive impact on students! https://t.co/4VwcFbZcq9 pic.twitter.com/x7EVIIwYxS

— Cabot Public Schools (@cabotsd) May 17, 2018

For the past several months, teachers have been training on a new @BrainspringOG phonics & spelling curriculum, & dyslexia intervention program. Pre-K-4 teachers & 5-6 literacy teachers completed training & learned new techniques to take back to the classroom. pic.twitter.com/InFA28Sp0I

— Cabot Public Schools (@cabotsd) May 17, 2018

Phonics First Training 2018

Phonics First Training 2018 Cont.