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Diane Loghry
EEA 520
Diane Loghry
EEA520
Current and Emerging Issues in Technology
Diane Loghry
EEA 520
instruction in many subjects. This is especially true in the area of early literacy.
Schools have found that the use of skill specific reading programs improve student
performance and can be used as a tier two intervention for meeting Response to
There are many programs available but two of the most widely know, researched,
and practiced are the Waterford Early Reading Program and the iStation literacy
program. Both programs have research that supports its use in classrooms to
Waterford is the older of the two programs. Waterford Institute was founded in 1976
student specific and at the same time provide students with an engaging medium to
literacy and can progress them to becoming fluent readers. . “Students using
Waterford Early Reading Program™ and Waterford Early Math and Science™ progress through a
generally positive due to the high level of student involvement. For students who
are struggling with acquisition of basic literacy skills, this program is able to provide
individualized and made more meaningful. Additionally, the program has a home
Current and Emerging Issues in Technology
Diane Loghry
EEA 520
component that supports student literacy through CDs, DVDs and books that
emergent readers can use to enhance teaching and learning in the home.
The Waterford system is a stand alone system when purchased individually. The
hardware comes loaded with the program and the workstation is used solely for
Waterford Instruction. This can cause issues with schools as the ability to have
multiple students’ access the program results in scheduling issues. Districts are
able to obtain site licenses but that is cost prohibitive for many districts.
Additionally schools do have to provide for initial teacher training in order to create
independently on the Waterford Program but it does require teacher set up and
monitoring.
data driven program that allows for instruction to be differentiated and structured
to best meet the needs of the individual student. “Developed with input from many
of the nation’s leading researchers and aligned to the federal No Child Left Behind
act, istation individualizes instruction for each student, recommends individual and
small group instruction and provides reports, which enable educators to meet state
overview," 2009) With the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) in 2001
and the changes made to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement
Act (IDEA) in 2004 school districts were forced to re-examine how students with
specific learning difficulties were identified and served. The purpose was to provide
early interventions before the need for special education services was indicated.
Current and Emerging Issues in Technology
Diane Loghry
EEA 520
instruction and interventions, and hold schools accountable for the progress of all
students in terms of meeting grade level standards.” (Klotz, & Canter, 2006)
As with the Waterford Program, istation requires site licenses but can be purchased
as a stand alone system. It differs from Waterford in that it can be accessed online
and does not require special hardware. Teacher training is necessary and since the
system is updated teachers need to have ongoing in-service to best utilize the
resource.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides stimulus funding to
find new ways to improve student achievement. Both of these programs support
learners and set high standards for learning. Teachers will continue to strengthen
their repertoire of skills in providing quality instruction and parents will be given
As districts move ever closer to the Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) goal set forth in
NCLB and IDEA more and more emphasis is being placed on providing assessment
like the Waterford and istation available to students and teachers we move one step
The company website with links to program review, management and research.
Klotz, M.B., & Canter, A. (2006). Response to intervention: a primer for parents.
National Association of School Psychologists, Retrieved from
<http://www.nasponline.org/resources/factsheets/rtiprimer.aspx>
Company website with links to program review, research and samples of actual
lessons of Waterford.