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Board hears how 'WONDERS 2023' plus Fundations phonics would reinforce early literacy
Summary
District literacy team presented research on the science of reading and explained why combining the Wonders 2023 curriculum with Fundations phonics instruction would provide a stronger, more explicit K–2 foundational program and better tiered interventions.
District elementary staff presented a layered approach to early literacy, saying Wonders (2023 edition) provides strong grade-level texts and comprehension supports while Fundations supplies explicit multi-sensory phonics instruction intended to accelerate readers who need more intensive instruction.
"The science of reading is not a curriculum," said Talia Houseal, the district’s Title I teacher. "It is a large body of research... It explains how students learn to read and spell." Houseal and colleagues described key building blocks — phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding and fluency — and why those skills must be taught explicitly in early grades.
Sam Brooks, who led a portion of the presentation, said Fundations is "very explicit" and provides cumulative practice and routines that support automaticity in spelling and encoding. "We've used it for the last ... 4 or 5 years, and I have seen kids grow when it is implemented correctly," Brooks said.
Presenters described classroom-to-intervention connections: Wonders supports language comprehension and vocabulary through authentic texts and small-group lessons, while Fundations supplies the systematic phonics scope-and-sequence used in K–2 and in interventions. The team highlighted the district’s Win time (targeted intervention block), weekly progress monitoring with Acadience benchmarks, and volunteer tutoring that provides additional Tier 2 support.
Board members asked about teacher training and turnover. The presenters said initial training occurred after COVID, that in-house professional learning communities and ongoing PD will support fidelity, and that volunteers and mentor teachers provide on-site coaching for newer staff.
The presentation was informational: no formal adoption vote occurred during the meeting. District staff said they will bring any formal adoption request or purchase for board action in a future meeting and continue to support teachers with training and materials.
