For many of my clients whose children have gone through the 12 books of the Wilson program or other multi-sensory phonetically based systematic programs, the issue can become what to do after completing the program. Given the nature of learning disabilities, there is a need to reinforce skills and to further indoctrinate skills already learned. One program that fits the bill nicely is called Megawords.[Download Megawords_research.pdf
].
Megawords has the following features:
- eight books which emphasize reading, spelling and vocabulary study;
- word lists are sorted by common word elements;
- structured multi-sensory exercises;
- assessments are built-in to determine proficiency;
- lessons are presented in a consistent format.
The literature on this program states it has an "emphasis on understanding how syllabification influences both word recognition and spelling, gives students tools for ‘learning how to learn’ as advocated by the Standards for the English Language."
One of the incidental benefits of the program is that it is cost-effective. The potential down-side is that school district may attempt to offer a supplemental program like Megawords in lieu of Wilson, Orton-Gilliam or other more extensive programs that require far more staff training and financial investment. The literature, however, specifically states that Megawords is for "continuing word study."