Fits RTI Tiers Tiers 2-3

Preventing Academic Failure (PAF)

A multisensory curriculum for teaching reading, spelling, and handwriting
Intervention Appropriate Grades K–6

By: Phyllis Bertin, Eileen Perlman
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PAF can be used as the primary reading program in a general classroom, or Tier 1, setting to prevent reading problems from occurring. After many years of using the Orton-Gillingham approach to teaching reading in resource room settings, the authors of PAF set out to offer this same instruction for all students. An entire class benefits from the parts of the program that focus on decoding, handwriting, spelling, and fluency. A majority of students can then work on comprehension in grade level material.

In Tiers 2 and 3, PAF can be appropriate as an intervention or special education program for students who have not been successful with other reading methodologies. These students with learning differences benefit from its multisensory instruction, the controlled, decodable text of the Merrill Readers and the comprehension and vocabulary instruction that accompanies them.

Orton-Gillingham


  • PAF Manual
  • Student Workbooks
  • NEW! Merrill Reading Program
  • Handwriting Program
  • Card Packs

PAF Manual
PAF Manual

Including over 200 clearly written lessons, Merrill Reader cross-references, assessment tests, and vocabulary lists, this essential resource also offers:

  • Additonal teaching instructions
  • Sentences for spelling dictations
  • Tests for decoding and word recognition
  • Reinforcement worksheet


Unique 5 Step Lesson:

  1. Review of previously taught concepts
  2. Introduction of new concepts
  3. Spelling dictation
  4. Reading words, phrases, sentences, and readers
  5. Reinforcement activities for new concepts

Download samples:

Ready to Read

Ready to Read contains activities for teaching sound/symbol association, blending, word recognition, reading, spelling and handwriting, including reading individual words, phrases, sentences, and connected text.

  • The book bridges the gap between phonemic awareness and beginning reading.
  • Children learn to write each new letter as they learn its sound.
  • Each new sound is immediately used to read and spell words. This is different from conventional instruction in which the 26 sounds of the alphabet are taught in isolation before they are used in real words
Spell Check Cards

Stepping Up In Reading 1

Stepping Up in Reading 1 contains word, phrase, and sentence lists that provide practice in decoding, word recognition, and expressive reading.

  • Short vowels and consonants
  • Short vowels with final blends, sh, ch and th
  • Short vowels in two syllable words
  • Compound words
  • The suffixes s, ing, ed, er, and es
  • 20 sight words
Stepping Up In Reading 1

Stepping Up In Reading 2

Stepping Up in Reading 2 contains word, phrase, and sentence lists that provide practice in decoding, word recognition, and expressive reading. Students can achieve automaticity by focusing on sound/symbol associations, blending, proper pronunciation, phrasing, and intonation. Activities provide more practice and help develop reading comprehension.

  • Initial blends
  • Long vowels
  • Open syllables, silent e syllables, r-controlled syllables, and vowel team syllables
  • Suffixes est, ful, less, ly and y
  • 35 sight words
Stepping Up In Reading 2

Stepping Up In Reading 3

Stepping Up in Reading 3 contains word, phrase, and sentence lists that provide practice in decoding, word recognition, and expressive reading. Students can achieve automaticity by focusing on sound/symbol associations, blending, proper pronunciation, phrasing, and intonation. Activities provide more practice and help develop reading comprehension. The phonetically controlled lists follow the sequence in the PAF program.

  • Additional vowel combinations (choice, fault, piece)
  • Soft c and g, silent letters (center, gentle, known)
  • Multisyllable root words (adjective, introduce, allowance)
  • 25 sight words
  • Sentences that focus on content-based vocabulary
 Stepping Up In Reading 3

Merrill Reading Program

Merrill Readers

Coordinated with the Stepping Up books, these excellent decodable readers are well paced and feature appealing narrative and informational text.

NEWMerrill Skills Books

These consumable workbooks provide extra practice in word recognition and grammar. Comprehension exercises related to the Merrill Readers includes work on recalling details, main idea, sequencing, cause and effect, and making inferences to draw conclusions. Mastery Tests are included for each level.

 Merrill Readers

The PAF Handwriting Program can be used in conjunction with the PAF curriculum or independently as a classroom penmanship program. The techniques were designed to accommodate all students including those with graphomotor weaknesses.

Handwriting Program for Print

The Handwriting Program for Print workbook provides large models for tracing that allow students to use arm muscles to learn letters. Small models are provided on 1 1/2-inch lined practice paper to facilitate the transition to regular writing paper.

Features:
  • Both large and small letter models to be traced and copied
  • Large models which exaggerate the differences between letter forms (like r and n)
  • Strategies for eliminating letter reversals
  • Names and symbols for each of the lines to help teach proper letter placement
  • A one-stroke method that prepares children for cursive writing
  • Techniques for children to write and spell words as they learn to write new letters
 Handwriting Program for Print
  • Download Handwriting Program for Print sample (for Ready to Read)

Handwriting Program for Numerals

The Handwriting Program for Numerals workbook provides large models for tracing that allow students to use arm muscles to learn numbers. Small models are provided on 1 1/2-inch lined practice paper to facilitate the transition to regular writing paper.

Features:
  • Both large and small models to be traced and copied. Large models exaggerate the differences between numerals (like 6 and 9)
  • Strategies for eliminating number reversals
  • Activities for developing number sense and basic counting skills
Handwriting Program for Numerals

Handwriting Program for Cursive

Children are eager to learn "grown-up" cursive writing! The Handwriting Program for Cursive workbook (right-handed and left-handed) provides large models for tracing that allow students to use arm muscles to learn letters. Small models are provided on 1 1/2-inch lined practice paper to facilitate the transition to regular writing paper.

Features:
  • Contains both large and small letter models to be traced and copied. Large models exaggerate the differences between letter forms (like h and k)
  • Special attention is given to connecting letters, particularly difficult connections such as br, os, and ve
  • Should be used with the Cursive Alphabet Picture Cards or Cursive Alphabet Strip

    • Cursive Alphabet Picture Cards
    Upper- and lower-case cursive handwriting models depict age-appropriate letter-sound illustrations. (5 ½" x 8 ½")

    Cursive Wall Strip
    Upper- and lower-case cursive handwriting models. (1 ½" x 6")

Handwriting Program for Cursive

Card Packs

Alphabet Picture Cards
Upper- and lower-case handwriting models also depict letter-sound illustrations. (7 ½” x 9”)

Keyword Picture Cards
Shown are all the phonograms introduced after the alphabet, plus their key word illustrations. (5 ½” x 8 ½”)

Review Packs
Used for daily review, these flash cards contain all phonograms, sight words, suffixes, and homonyms. Set I coordinates with Levels 1 – 129. Set II with Levels 130 – 202. (5” x 8”)

Pocket Chart Alphabet Cards
Used with a pocket chart, this card pack contains two alphabet sets (vowels are color-coded) for teaching phonemic awareness, sound-symbol associations, and spelling. (3” x 4”)

 Card Packs

Download samples:

Pricing for Preventing Academic Failure (PAF)

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  Pricing  
# Item Grade Range 1-5 6+ Quantity Sub-total
5271-WX PAF Curriculum Manual Ungraded 58.60 —
5137-WX Ready to Read Ungraded 11.15 7.85
5139-WX Stepping Up in Reading 1 Ungraded 13.20 9.25
5140-WX Stepping Up in Reading 2 Ungraded 13.20 9.25
5141-WX Stepping Up In Reading 3 Ungraded 13.20 9.25
5125-WX Handwriting Program for Print Ungraded 12.30 8.65
5136-WX Handwriting Program for Numerals Ungraded 11.05 7.75
5127-WX Handwriting Program for Cursive (right-handed) Ungraded 14.10 9.90
5129-WX Handwriting Program for Cursive (left-handed) Ungraded 14.10 9.90
5126-WX Teacher’s Manual for Print and Numerals Ungraded 3.70 —
5128-WX Teacher’s Manual for Cursive Ungraded 3.70 —
5135-WX Cursive Wall Strip Ungraded 23.35 16.35
5138-WX Cursive Alphabet Picture Cards Ungraded 23.35 16.35
5133-WX Alphabet Picture Cards Ungraded 23.35 16.35
5134-WX Key Word Picture Cards Ungraded 35.05 25.10
5121-WX Review Pack Set I Ungraded 42.50 29.75
5122-WX Review Pack Set II Ungraded 42.50 29.75
5120-WX Pocket Chart Alphabet Cards Ungraded 16.20 11.35
5150-WX Merrill Student Reader A—I Can
1–5 pricing: 20.16
6+ pricing: —

Merrill Student Readers are decodable texts that coordinate with the PAF program, but can be used to support any phonics program. Each book covers specific phonetic skills as well as high-frequency word practice. Book A, I Can, covers short vowel a in the medial position with final consonant sounds. The books are controlled for both spelling patterns and sight words so students can continually review and apply decoding skills in meaningful contexts. Merrill Reader A is coordinated with Stepping Up in Reading Book 1, part of the PAF Program.



Skills Addressed
• Short vowel patterns: -at, -an, -ap, -ad, -am, -ag
• Sight words: is, a, the, on, not, look, he, to, in, see, her, his, she, and, I, it
Ungraded 20.16 —
5151-WX Merrill Student Reader B—Dig In
1–5 pricing: 20.16
6+ pricing: —

Merrill Student Readers are decodable texts that coordinate with the PAF program, but can be used to support any phonics program. Each book covers specific phonetic skills as well as high-frequency word practice. Book B, Dig In, covers short vowels i and u. The books are controlled for both spelling patterns and sight words so students can continually review and apply decoding skills in meaningful contexts. Merrill Reader B is coordinated with Stepping Up in Reading Book 1, part of the PAF Program.



Skills Addressed
• Short vowel patterns: -it, -in, -ix, -id, -im, -ip, -ig, -un, -ut, -up, -ug, -us, -ud, -um, -ub
• Sight words: for, took, with, said, got, of, me, happy, your, have, are, little
Ungraded 20.16 —
5152-WX Merrill Student Reader C—Catch On
1–5 pricing: 20.16
6+ pricing: —

Merrill Student Readers are decodable texts that coordinate with the PAF program, but can be used to support any phonics program. Each book covers specific phonetic skills as well as high-frequency word practice. Book C, Catch On, covers short vowels and consonant digraphs. The books are controlled for both spelling patterns and sight words so students can continually review and apply decoding skills in meaningful contexts. Merrill Reader C is coordinated with Stepping Up in Reading Book 1, part of the PAF Program.



Skills Addressed
• Short vowel patterns: -ot, -op, -ox, -et, -en, -og, -ed, -eg
• Sight words: do, by, doctor, very, grandma, grandpa, no, so, go, horse, was, sky
• Consonant digraphs: ck, th, ch, tch
Ungraded 20.16 —
5153-WX Merrill Student Reader D—Get Set
1–5 pricing: 40.17
6+ pricing: —

Merrill Student Readers are decodable texts that coordinate with the PAF program, but can be used to support any phonics program. Each book covers specific phonetic skills as well as high-frequency word practice. Book D, Get Set, covers consonant digraphs, inflectional endings, and ending blends. The books are controlled for both spelling patterns and sight words so students can continually review and apply decoding skills in meaningful contexts. Merrill Reader D is coordinated with Stepping Up in Reading Book 1, part of the PAF Program.



Skills Addressed
• Consonant digraph: sh
• Inflectional endings: -ing, -ed
• Doubling rule for inflectional endings
• Ending blends: -ng, -nd, -nt, -nk, -st, -sk, -pt, -lt, -lk, -mp
• Sight words: from, house, don’t, Mr., trip, boy, who, they, like, bike, were, room, school, Ms., when, Mrs., here, home, grandfather, girl, day, play, made, doll
Ungraded 40.17 —
5154-WX Merrill Student Reader E—Step Up
1–5 pricing: 40.17
6+ pricing: —

Merrill Student Readers are decodable texts that coordinate with the PAF program, but can be used to support any phonics program. Each book covers specific phonetic skills as well as high-frequency word practice. Book E, Step Up, covers beginning and ending blends. The books are controlled for both spelling patterns and sight words so students can continually review and apply decoding skills in meaningful contexts. Merrill Reader E is coordinated with Stepping Up in Reading Book 2, part of the PAF Program.



Skills Addressed
• Beginning blends: pl-, bl-, sl-, fl-, sp-, st-, sk-, sw-, tw-, cr-, fr-, dr-, br-, tr-
• Reviews ending blends
• Reviews consonant digraphs
• Sight words: what, all, time, why, there, some, one, woman, want, money, take, off, our, how, grandmother, would, where, deer, about, handle, cold, nose
Ungraded 40.17 —
5155-WX Merrill Student Reader F—Lift Off
1–5 pricing: 40.17
6+ pricing: —

Merrill Student Readers are decodable texts that coordinate with the PAF program, but can be used to support any phonics program. Each book covers specific phonetic skills as well as high-frequency word practice. Book F, Lift Off, covers silent-e, vowel digraphs, spelling rules, and r-controlled vowels. The books are controlled for both spelling patterns and sight words so students can continually review and apply decoding skills in meaningful contexts. Merrill Reader F is coordinated with Stepping Up in Reading Book 2, part of the PAF Program.



Skills Addressed
• Silent-e
• Vowel digraphs: ai, ea, ee
• Silent-e spelling rule for adding inflectional endings
• R-controlled vowels
• Sight words: too, tooth, race, women, turned, water, wash, bird, which, across, son, their, zoo, does
Ungraded 40.17 —
5156-WX Merrill Student Reader G—Take Flight
1–5 pricing: 46.80
6+ pricing: —

Merrill Student Readers are decodable texts that coordinate with the PAF program, but can be used to support any phonics program. Each book covers specific phonetic skills as well as high-frequency word practice. Book G, Take Flight, covers silent letters, vowel diphthongs, consonant-le, hard and soft c and g, r-controlled vowels, and prefixes. The books are controlled for both spelling patterns and sight words so students can continually review and apply decoding skills in meaningful contexts. Merrill Reader G is coordinated with Stepping Up in Reading Book 3, part of the PAF Program.



Skills Addressed
• Word pattern -igh
• Vowel diphthongs: oa, aw, ou, ei, ew, ow
• Consonant-le
• Hard and soft c and g
• R-controlled vowels
• Prefix re-
• Sight words: people, because, even, table, work, while, bacteria, laugh, circus, town, giant, build, pound, baby, monkey, vacation, aunt, carry, future, any, many, obey, sure, library, through, move, heard, been, principal
Ungraded 46.80 —
5157-WX Merrill Student Reader H—Break Through
1–5 pricing: 46.80
6+ pricing: —

Merrill Student Readers are decodable texts that coordinate with the PAF program, but can be used to support any phonics program. Each book covers specific phonetic skills as well as high-frequency word practice. Book H, Break Through, covers vowel diphthongs and other word patterns. The books are controlled for both spelling patterns and sight words so students can continually review and apply decoding skills in meaningful contexts. Merrill Reader H is coordinated with Stepping Up in Reading Book 3, part of the PAF Program.



Skills Addressed
• Vowel diphthongs: ea, oo, ow, ie, oi, oy, ou, au, ui
• Reviews silent-e
• Reviews r-controlled vowels
• Word patterns: ild, ind, ought, aught, tion
• Sight words: warm, aquarium, floor, buy, special, busy, business, high, two, nothing, young, four, again, calf, half, idea, eye, cough, beautiful, color
Ungraded 46.80 —
5158-WX Merrill Skills Books A—I Can Ungraded 13.47 —
5159-WX Merrill Skills Books B—Dig In Ungraded 13.47 —
5160-WX Merrill Skills Books C—Catch On Ungraded 13.47 —
5161-WX Merrill Skills Books D—Get Set Ungraded 15.12 —
5162-WX Merrill Skills Books E—Step Up Ungraded 15.12 —
5163-WX Merrill Skills Books F—Lift Off Ungraded 15.12 —
5164-WX Merrill Skills Books G—Take Flight Ungraded 15.90 —
5165-WX Merrill Skills Books H—Break Through Ungraded 15.90 —
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Orton-Gillingham

Orton-Gillingham based instruction »

 Orton-Gillingham This program incorporates the Orton-Gillingham approach. This instructional methodology is language-based, multisensory, structured, sequential, cumulative, cognitive, and flexible. Learn more »