Successful Start

Successful Start is a classroom kindergarten program based on literacy processing theory. Successful Start includes four instructional components: Instructional reading, instructional writing, read to and letter/word work. Handwriting and letter formation are explicitly and responsively taught during both the instructional reading and writing components. Phonological awareness, phonemic awareness and phonics instruction is embedded in both the instructional reading and instructional writing components of the lesson framework and follow a direct scope and sequence. Each child in Successful Start classrooms receives each instructional component three times weekly, in small groups of three students in instructional reading and instructional writing and a small group of six students in read to. When not receiving small group instruction by the Successful Start kindergarten teacher, students are working in managed independent learning stations to consolidate skills practiced in small group instructional settings.

Those participating in Successful Start Training must be in-service teachers and be nominated by a school district. The year long, apprenticeship training involves teachers in both clinical class sessions and side by side coaching from the Successful Start facilitator. Teachers enroll in 7965 in both fall and spring of an academic year for a total of 6 credit hours.

Teachers must hold a bachelor’s degree for participation in this course.