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Why Wilson Certification?
•	WRS Certification Description
Graduate Credit

 

Description

The WRS Level I Certification course is designed to prepare teachers to effectively implement WRS Steps 1-6 with 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

WRS Introductory Workshop (completed within the last five years)

Note: Completion of the WRS Introductory Workshop fulfills the prerequisite for Wilson Academy® / Intensive Learning Community Membership.

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
  
• 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
  

Length of event

Participants are encouraged to complete Word Study (WRS Steps 1-6) Online Course and Practicum within the school year.

Materials required

Teachers implementing the program must have a WRS  Starter Kit; practicum students must have student materials.

Practicum Student Selection Criteria

The practicum student must be approved by Wilson Language Training before instruction begins. Criteria includes:

• Student entering grades 4-12 (grade 3 approved if student has been retained)
  
• Overall cognitive ability in average range (minimum IQ = 80)
  
• Overall reading must be ranked in the 30th percentile or below
  
• Student’s listening comprehension ability is higher compared to independent reading comprehension
  
• Student has poor decoding and spelling
  
• Student must be available to be scheduled at minimum three to four 45-minute lessons, two to three 60-minute lessons, or two to three 90-minute lessons (1:1) per week
  
• The practicum student must not have any previous Wilson instruction

The above criteria should be determined from school records and current testing. Testing must be completed for selection in late spring or early September.

The WADE (Wilson Assessment of Decoding and Encoding) must be used along with a formal reading test. Any of the following is recommended: the Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests, Woodcock-Johnson® III Tests of Achievement or Diagnostic Reading Battery, or Wechsler Individual Achievement Test®. A similar individualized reading assessment may be substituted if it provides information regarding decoding, comprehension and total reading.

The practicum situation works best when the selected student has a consistent attendance record and does not have overriding emotional or behavioral issues.

Upon Completion

The Wilson Literacy Specialists / Trainer will determine if the participant met the requirements and has demonstrated mastery of the Wilson lesson plan, including multisensory techniques and effective strategies for working 1:1. Upon completion, the participant will receive a WRS Level I certificate from Wilson Language Training.

Participants completing this program may represent themselves as Wilson Level I Certified tutors and are included in our tutor referral service, but are not qualified as Wilson Trainers. Our policy to recommend only Wilson Level I Certified Teachers is our way of assuring the integrity of the program.

Graduate Credit

Up to 9 graduate credits are offered through Fitchburg State University (FSU) in Fitchburg, MA. Information is provided in the WRS Word Study (Steps 1-6) Online Course in the Graduate Credit Opportunity and Process lesson. All graduate credit is obtained after course completion through the FSU registrar at www.fitchburgstate.edu/registrar/wilson.cfm