The foundation of student success begins with access to high-quality instructional materials (HQIM). Decades of research confirm that HQIM—rooted in evidence-based practices—can dramatically improve learning outcomes. These materials engage students, build foundational skills, and align with proven frameworks like the Science of Reading. Core literacy HQIM curricula like UFLI K-2 (University of Florida Literacy Institute) and EL Education K-8 exemplify the best in core HQIM, providing schools with structured, research-backed approaches that foster literacy development.
However, even the most effective instructional materials need tools to address the unique and diverse needs of all learners. That’s where MindPlay Reading Studio comes in. MindPlay doesn’t replace your core, Science of Reading-based HQIM—it enhances its impact. By addressing critical components of reading development—phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension —MindPlay equips teachers with an easy to use tool to personalize instruction and close skill gaps, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed, especially students who did not start their reading journey with a HQIM program and are now in need of intervention in grades 2 and up. MindPlay Reading Studio ensures students have multiple ways to learn or re-learn key skills through direct instruction provided by on-screen speech pathologists, rebuilding and solidifying their foundation for literacy success in alignment with the same guiding principles as the HQIM curricula carefully chosen by school districts.
A Winning Combination for Science of Reading Excellence
Both UFLI and EL Education align with the science of reading by prioritizing systematic, explicit instruction in the foundational and advanced literacy skills students need to thrive. Their frameworks create a strong foundation, and MindPlay complements these efforts by additional direct instruction through tailored and student-centered support that helps schools meet individual needs without compromising high expectations.
How MindPlay Supports UFLI Schools
UFLI’s structured approach emphasizes the building blocks of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, and decoding, alongside consistent assessment and decodable texts. MindPlay enhances these practices through targeted, technology-driven instruction:
- Strengthening Phonemic Awareness: MindPlay’s Reading Coach uses on-screen speech-language pathologists to provide direct, personalized instruction. These virtual coaches model correct pronunciation, help students articulate sounds, and address specific mistakes where students need additional support. This tailored feedback ensures that students master the foundational skill of distinguishing and manipulating sounds.
- Expanding Phonics Instruction: MindPlay’s diagnostic assessments pinpoint gaps in phonics knowledge, allowing lessons to be tailored to individual student needs. From letter-sound correspondences to multisyllabic words, MindPlay ensures systematic, step-by-step practice using engaging multisensory activities and decodable texts. Its use of over a dozen research-based teaching methods ensures that every student has access to the best strategies for building phonics skills.
- Progress Monitoring Made Easy: Ongoing assessments allow educators to track student growth and adjust instruction as needed. Celebrating progress keeps students motivated, while personalized lessons ensure that every learner moves forward confidently.
How MindPlay Supports EL Education Schools
EL Education’s knowledge-rich curriculum engages students with high-quality texts and inquiry-based instruction to build vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. MindPlay seamlessly integrates with these priorities to offer an additional layer of personalized, skill-based support:
- Building Vocabulary with Purpose: MindPlay’s vocabulary lessons focus on the most commonly used words in English, integrating visual aids and contextual practice to deepen understanding. Its culturally relevant and diverse library helps students connect learning to their own experiences, fostering a sense of belonging and engagement.
- Improving Fluency and Comprehension: Through paired oral reading and listening activities, MindPlay develops fluency while enhancing prosody and comprehension. Active reading strategies like questioning, predicting, and summarizing align with EL Education’s emphasis on critical thinking and text analysis.
- Personalized, Self-Paced Learning: MindPlay’s Lexile®-based Personalized Library provides students with reading materials tailored to their proficiency level, ensuring they remain challenged but not overwhelmed. This individualized approach fosters reading growth while supporting choice and student interests.
Why MindPlay is the Perfect Complement to your Science of Reading HQIM
MindPlay Reading Studio is rooted in over four decades of Science of Reading research through the University of Arizona, designed to seamlessly pair with HQIM like UFLI and EL Education to ensure a coherent, thoughtful instructional experience. Its diagnostic tools, personalized lessons, and culturally responsive content extend the reach and impact of these programs, ensuring that no student is left behind.
Unique Benefits of MindPlay:
- On-Screen Speech-Language Pathologists: MindPlay’s Reading Coach provides direct, personalized instruction, offering corrections and feedback for specific mistakes, ensuring every student gets targeted support.
- Over a Dozen Research-Based Strategies: By utilizing multiple evidence-based teaching strategies, MindPlay gives students several ways to learn or re-learn essential skills, ensuring no one is left behind.
- Multisensory Instruction: MindPlay’s combination of visual aids, auditory repetition, and interactive activities ensures students learn in ways that resonate with them.
- Culturally Relevant Content: The Personalized Library includes stories and themes that reflect students’ diverse backgrounds, fostering engagement and inclusivity.
- Built-in Motivation: Celebrating milestones keeps students inspired and builds a growth mindset.
- Real-Time Adaptivity: MindPlay’s diagnostic tools continuously adjust instruction to meet students where they are, providing targeted support and accelerating progress.
- By pairing high-quality instruction with philosophically and pedagogically aligned personalized, data-driven support, MindPlay Reading Studio enables schools to fully realize the potential of their HQIM selection. Together, they create an ecosystem that empowers every student to become a confident, capable reader.
The Path Forward
Schools that invest in HQIM curricula like UFLI and EL Education are already making literacy a priority, but we know that for some students, extra support is required. By incorporating MindPlay Reading Studio for intervention, they can amplify their efforts and ensure every learner receives the support they need to succeed. MindPlay doesn’t just align with these programs—it enhances their effectiveness by meeting students where they are and helping them build toward mastery.
Are you ready to elevate your literacy program? Discover how MindPlay Reading Studio can transform the way your students learn and thrive.
