iSPIRE 10-Step Lesson Overview
- Forrest Rose
Introduction
The S.P.I.R.E. (Specialized Program Individualizing Reading Excellence) curriculum is available in three formats: S.P.I.R.E. Print, S.P.I.R.E. Hybrid, and iSPIRE. Regardless of the format, all S.P.I.R.E. lessons follow a consistent, multisensory 10-step Lesson structure designed to help struggling readers and nonreaders develop critical reading skills. This article provides an overview of the 10 steps and how they are implemented across the different S.P.I.R.E. formats.
PDF guide: 10-Step Lesson Overview.
The 10 Steps
Phonogram Cards
Students review previously learned concepts and are introduced to new ones using Key Word Concept Sheets and Phonogram/Word Cards. Physical cards are used in S.P.I.R.E. Print and Hybrid, while iSPIRE utilizes digital, interactive displays.
Phonological Awareness
Through engaging activities, students develop their ability to identify, manipulate, and work with the sounds in spoken language. Depending on the S.P.I.R.E. format, these activities may be conducted orally, with manipulatives, or using digital tools.
Word Building
Students practice building and manipulating words, reinforcing their understanding of sound-symbol relationships. S.P.I.R.E. Print and Hybrid use color-coded letter tiles, while iSPIRE employs digital manipulatives.
Decoding and Sentence Reading
Students apply decoding strategies to read words and sentences, building fluency and comprehension skills. In S.P.I.R.E. Print and Hybrid, students work with printed materials while iSPIRE presents words and sentences digitally.
Prereading
The teacher guides students in analyzing the phoneme-grapheme relationships in words and introduces the reading passage, helping students build background knowledge and prepare for reading. This step is conducted similarly across all S.P.I.R.E. formats.
Reading and Reading Comprehension
Students read various texts, including fiction and nonfiction passages, to practice applying new concepts and developing comprehension skills. S.P.I.R.E. Print and Hybrid use printed passages, while iSPIRE presents texts digitally.
Sound Dictation
The teacher dictates sounds, and students practice writing the corresponding letter combinations and reading them back. Students write on paper in S.P.I.R.E. Print and Hybrid, while iSPIRE allows digital input.
Independent Work
Following the 10-Step Lesson, students can practice and reinforce their learning through various independent activities, such as workbook exercises, reading decodable texts, and writing sentences using the new concepts. The format of these activities varies depending on the S.P.I.R.E. version being used.
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