Helping Early Literacy with Practice Strategies (HELPS)
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
The Helping Early Literacy with Practice Strategies (HELPS) program was developed to improve the reading fluency of students in early elementary school. It was founded in 2009 by Dr. John Begeny and was originally designed to supplement a core reading program. The HELPS Education Fund is financially supported by teachers or schools that opt to purchase a set of pre-assembled, professionally developed HELPS Program materials and individuals or organizations that make tax-deductible donations directly to the Fund.
HELPS offer programs that integrate several strategies to improve reading fluency for students of all reading ability levels. The one-on-one program combines eight separate instructional strategies that are the most scientifically-supported into a single instructional program. It provides a set of 88 instructional passages, ranging in difficulty from the beginning of first grade through fourth grade, and a teacher's manual that includes a structured implementation protocol. The implementation of the program requires only 10-12 minutes per day, approximately 2-3 days per week and students receive one-on-one attention from a caring adult who provides specific praise and feedback regarding the student’s reading.
Other programs include the HELPS program for small groups, for teachers who have limited time or assistance and special programs for Spanish speakers and parents.
HELPS offer programs that integrate several strategies to improve reading fluency for students of all reading ability levels. The one-on-one program combines eight separate instructional strategies that are the most scientifically-supported into a single instructional program. It provides a set of 88 instructional passages, ranging in difficulty from the beginning of first grade through fourth grade, and a teacher's manual that includes a structured implementation protocol. The implementation of the program requires only 10-12 minutes per day, approximately 2-3 days per week and students receive one-on-one attention from a caring adult who provides specific praise and feedback regarding the student’s reading.
Other programs include the HELPS program for small groups, for teachers who have limited time or assistance and special programs for Spanish speakers and parents.
Goal / Mission
The goal of HELPS Programs is to strengthen students’ reading fluency so they will be better able to focus on and improve other important reading skills, including comprehension.
Impact
HELPS is a supplemental curriculum that improves students reading fluency, a commonly neglected aspect of children's core reading curriculum, in order to help them become successful readers.
Results / Accomplishments
The HELPS program was evaluated in several studies. More recently, it was implemented with second grade participants and compared against a control group. Results showed that students receiving the HELPS Program scored significantly better than students in the control group across several measures of early reading (p<0.05).
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
HELPS Education Fund
Primary Contact
John C. Begeny
Department of Psychology Poe Hall 762C Box 7650,
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7650
(919) 513-7950
helpsprogram@gmail.com
http://www.helpsprogram.org/contact.php
Department of Psychology Poe Hall 762C Box 7650,
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7650
(919) 513-7950
helpsprogram@gmail.com
http://www.helpsprogram.org/contact.php
Topics
Education / Literacy
Education / Childcare & Early Childhood Education
Community / Social Environment
Education / Childcare & Early Childhood Education
Community / Social Environment
Organization(s)
HELPS Education Fund
Date of publication
Nov 2010
Date of implementation
2009
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
USA
For more details
Target Audience
Children