Reading Intervention Models

Utah Literacy Lab tutors are trained in three reading intervention models for struggling readers. 

Early StepsSM 

This model is designed to help struggling readers with little alphabet knowledge to a mid-first grade reading level. Sessions are held four to five days per week for 30-minutes. This intervention teaches foundational reading knowledge with an emphasis on letter names and sounds, phonemic awareness, and basic phonics instruction.

Next StepsSM 

Twice weekly 45-minute sessions to help struggling readers at mid-first grade to end-second grade reading level. This intervention model continues to help students practice phonemic awareness (through spelling and word study), master vowel patterns in one syllable words, and build fluency and comprehension through systematic, explicit instruction or, in other words, students are told directly what they need to know and skills are taught in a logical, orderly way.

Higher StepsSM 

Twice weekly 45-minute sessions to help struggling readers at early-third grade level and above. This intervention model helps bridge the gap between the  student’s reading level and their grade level. It focuses on improved fluency with attention to an appropriate reading rate and accuracy in word reading. Higher Steps teaches advanced word study through phonics and spelling instruction and grade-appropriate vocabulary. This is all done in a systematic, explicit way, or, in other words, students are told directly what they need to know and skills are taught in a logical, orderly way.