Wilson Reading System^® (WRS) Level II Certification

Knowledge and Skills Gained

Individuals who successfully meet all the requirements receive WRS Level II Certification and are able to:

• Deepen skills developed in the WRS Level I Certification.
• Understand course methodology and demonstrate understanding of advanced language structure when instructing individual students using the WRS in Steps 7-12.
• Accurately teach the structure of the English language (presented in WRS Steps 7-12): consonant & vowel phonemes, syllable structure, common orthographic rules and advanced spelling patterns including spelling option procedures, and word elements such as common Latin and Greek bases, prefixes, and suffixes, etc.
• Review the planning for and execution of WRS Lesson Blocks 1, 2, and 3 and differentiating instruction for maximum small-group success.
• Appropriately pace a group of students through the curriculum, developing mastery of material taught, designing group lessons that focus on accuracy, automaticity, and fluency of word and text reading.
• Identify the characteristics of dyslexia and related language-based learning disabilities.
• Use assessments to identify students with word-level deficits who are appropriate for an intensive intervention in a small, homogeneous group setting.
• Diagnostically plan and deliver group lessons, while addressing and understanding individual student weaknesses that impact the ability to learn to read and write.
• Understand the necessary principles of instruction used to teach students with a language-based learning disability: direct, explicit, systematic, structured, sequential, integrated, multisensory, synthetic, analytical, diagnostic, prescriptive, mastery/automaticity, cumulative, metacognitive, and emotionally sound. 
• Foster a positive instructional climate with clearly established rules and routines.
• Guide students to correct errors through questioning and use of their notebooks.
• Effectively use Structured Literacy instructional techniques, and demonstrate explicit teaching, modeling, guided practice, appropriate feedback, and consistent review in lessons in the group setting.
• Develop lessons to support the progression of comprehension skills, moving a student from foundational and initial phases to secondary and proficient phases.
• Develop a word-conscious lesson.
• Understand the role of spelling in writing fluency.
• Determine how to ensure students successfully access complex text (both literary and informational text structures).
• Understand how to select the appropriate text and tasks for students in order to effectively plan for and deliver fluency and comprehension instruction.

Credentials

Participants completing all four advanced courses of this certification program may represent themselves as WRS Level II Certified Teachers and are eligible to receive the professional credential of Wilson^® Dyslexia Therapist (W.D.T.). This does not qualify one as a Wilson^® Credentialed Trainer (W.C.T.). Wilson commends educators who demonstrate the dedication and expertise needed to reach this high level of achievement.

Graduate Credit

Up to ten graduate credits (optional) are available through Fitchburg State University, Fitchburg, MA, upon completion of course requirements. Please see Process for Graduate Credit for details.