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The Wilson Way

Tiers of Instruction

Our research-based approach to program content and instructional design fits within an MTSS and RTI framework across three tiers of instruction.

A pyramid divided into thirds; the base colored gold and labeled as Tier 1: Universal Instruction, Fundations®. The middle section is divided in half, the left side gold, the right side purple; it's labeled as Tier 2: Targeted, Group Interventions, Fundations® & Just Words®. The top of the pyrmaid is blue and labeled as Tier 3: Intensive, Individualized Interventions, Wilson Reading System®

Prevention and intervention within MTSS and RTI frameworks

Wilson’s three strategically designed curricula and associated professional learning opportunities fit within both a Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and Response to Intervention (RTI) framework to provide prevention-based general instruction and intervention support for students across three tiers of instruction.

While the programs are designed to be implemented together and work synergistically as part of a school or district’s MTSS or RTI framework, each program can also be used on its own as an effective supplemental or intervention program to meet the specific needs of your students.

Achieving better outcomes across Tiers 1 to 3

Wilson programs have been successfully implemented in public and private schools, private clinics, and adult education settings across the country. For effectiveness study results for each program, click on the links below.

Illustration of an owl wearing a graduation cap and holding a pointer. The owl stands next to the word "Fundations," spelled with three tiles "f," "u," and "n," and a fourth tile with "o" seems to be jumping into place. "Wilson Language Basics" is written below.

Prevention (Tier 1) & Early Intervention (Tier 2)

Grades K-3 in all classrooms, plus Pre-K Activity Set.

Fundations serves as a foundational prevention program. It is integral to an MTSS or RTI framework, providing research-based instruction in Tier 1 as well as Tier 2 for students at risk for reading difficulties. Progress monitoring is built into Fundations to support the implementation of an MTSS or RTI framework. This allows students requiring a more intensive program to be identified early.

Learn about the effectiveness of Fundations

The Just Words logo features the word just in lowercase yellow letters and words in lowercase blue letters. The letter o in words is stylized as a wave, and a blue curved line resembling a smile is below the word.

Intervention (Tier 2)

Grades 4-12 and adults with mild to moderate gaps in decoding and spelling.

An accelerated, highly explicit, multimodal Tier 2 word study program for students in Grades 4–12 and adults who have mild to moderate gaps in their decoding and spelling proficiency, but do not require intensive intervention. 

Learn about the effectiveness of Just Words

Logo of the Wilson Reading System. The word WILSON is in large blue capital letters, with a registered trademark symbol. Below it, in smaller blue letters, reads Reading System. A strip of seven colored boxes in various colors is beneath the text.

Intensive Intervention (Tier 3)

Grades 2-12 and adults with a language-based learning disability, such as dyslexia.

Informed by the science of reading and based on more than three decades of data, Wilson Reading System (WRS) is designed for students in Grades 2–12 and adults with a language-based learning disability, such as dyslexia, providing intensive Structured Literacy instruction for even the most challenged reader.

WRS is the flagship program of Wilson Language Training® and the foundation of all other Wilson® programs. 

Learn about the effectiveness of WRS