What Is the Barton Reading and Spelling Program?

Mar 30

Helping your student learn how to read despite ongoing struggles with dyslexia isn’t an easy task for any parent. You may find yourself struggling to find a tutor that has the skills needed to help your student truly learn and overcome their struggles with dyslexia without setting them further and further behind.

It is overwhelming knowing there are countless methodologies used to help students with dyslexia. It can feel even more overwhelming trying to narrow down one for your student on your own. However, being able to trust in expert tutors is a must, and is one way you can help your student achieve improved reading comprehension.

One method tutors and teachers use when teaching students with dyslexia is called the Barton Reading and Spelling Program. What is this program, and how can it help your student achieve reading literacy?

What Is It?

The Barton Reading and Spelling Program is a teaching method using the highly structured Orton-Gillingham approach.

Each lesson includes the opportunity to learn new encoding (spelling) and decoding (reading) strategies, then practises these in-depth with students.. While the Orton-Gillingham approach can follow a number of different scopes and sequences, Barton turns these multisensory approaches into an explicit and cumulative program for learners ages 5 - 85!

At the same time, it works similarly to the Orton-Gillingham approach and is most effective when students are one-on-one with an instructor or in groups no larger than three.

Who Uses The Barton Program?

The Barton Reading and Spelling program is used everywhere that English is spoken. It is used by reading specialists, teachers, educators, and parents alike.

Due to its intensity and depth, Barton is most effective in 1:1 reading remediation. As such, it is sometimes used in school resource programs, having been approved by the California, Colorado, and Arkansas Boards of Education.

Some professional tutors use the Barton method as well. Whether certified or uncertified, all Barton tutors must pass a tutor screening to ensure they themselves can hear sounds accurately. There are certification programs offered that give more professional training beyond the videos included in the basic program.

Who Benefits From The Barton Program?

The Barton program isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for students with dyslexia. There are a few criteria that must be met for students to best engage with the Barton program.

Students who are at least five years old and in kindergarten are eligible to use it, though Barton’s website notes teenagers and adults can benefit from the program as well. Students need a minimum IQ of 71 and need to speak and comprehend spoken English well.

Barton also uses a screening test before instruction to ensure the program is a good match for the child.

What Does The Barton Program Focus On?

While it was designed to help students with dyslexia, the Barton Reading and Spelling Program has a few key topics that it touches on. Like many other approaches to teaching reading comprehension to students with dyslexia, the Barton method encourages a multisensory approach akin to that of the Orton-Gillingham approach.

What is a Multisensory Approach?

The Barton Method encourages the instructor to have the student engage with language in three ways: visually, auditorily, and kinesthetically. For example, saying the word out loud while spelling the word on their fingers and drawing the word. This helps students commit information to memory.

The Barton method uses coloured wooden tiles in its program, touching and saying letters as they’re shown on cards.

What Else Does It Do?

The Barton method includes a large number of focuses that the instructors will use to help students retain and gain reading skills. Here are a few of them:

Phonemic Awareness
Sight Words
Spelling Rules
B/D Confusion
Grammar
Fluency
Syntax

Trust Sunrise Reading Solutions

Sunrise Reading Solutions utilizes the complete Barton Reading & Spelling program in addition to Foundations in Sound. Where needed, we supplement with drills and other Orton-Gillingham approaches that suit the specific needs of your child. All of our programs are fully integrated into an online format so as to remain equally effective during distance learning!

We are happy to provide both in-person and online tutoring to families during Covid-19. To prevent the transmission of the virus, we will only meet students at their school or home and utilize the most up-to-date health and safety protocols as set out by local health authorities. Whether you choose an online model or wish to meet in person, we provide the same standard of excellence across all services we provide.

Sunrise Reading Solutions can help your struggling reader achieve academic success without so much pressure and stress on you as the parent. Our customized approach is sure to help your student achieve great things, regardless of any difficulties they are currently facing.

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