There are very few instructional programs that exist to specifically address students' reading fluency development. Of those that exist, the HELPS Program offers numerous strengths and benefits not found in existing programs. Some strengths and benefits of the HELPS Program are listed below. Benefits are categorized into three main areas: 1) Feasibility for Teachers, 2) Research, Development, and Educational Policy, and 3) Additional Benefits.
Feasibility for Teachers
1. HELPS can be implemented by more than one teacher with the same student.2. HELPS implementation requires only 10 minutes per day, approximately 2-3 days per week.
3. HELPS can be used with students of varying reading-ability levels.
4. HELPS includes a structured implementation protocol AND a curriculum of reading materials for students.
5. Learning the HELPS procedures is easy, especially compared to many other reading programs.
Additional information about these benefits can be found in the HELPS Program Teacher's Manual.
Research, Development, and Educational Policy
6. HELPS includes each of the research-based (i.e., evidence-based) strategies known to best improve reading fluency.7. Research studies specifically show that HELPS is effective.
8. When needed, HELPS can be easily used with Response to Intervention (RTI).
9. HELPS can be used for instructional AND ongoing assessment purposes.
10. HELPS includes features to assess and increase implementation integrity.
11. Teachers and students report that they enjoy using HELPS.
Additional information about these benefits can be found in the HELPS Program Teacher's Manual.
Additional Benefits
12. HELPS procedures are designed to create positive reading experiences for all students, including struggling readers.13. The HELPS Program and the HELPS Curriculum are free to all educators.
Additional information about these benefits can be found in the HELPS Program Teacher's Manual.
Increasingly, college professors have been using the HELPS Program as part of their teaching and training activities with undergraduate and graduate students entering educational fields. Read more to learn about some advantages of integrating HELPS as part of university training activities.
Although teachers can learn the HELPS One-on-One Program by using the Teacher's Manual and watching the free training video offered through this website, it is oftentimes more efficient and more effective for teachers in a school or district to attend a HELPS Workshop.
Although reading fluency is important for all students' reading development, instructional strategies designed to improve students' reading fluency are often missing from core reading curricula. In fact, approximately 40% of U.S. students are nonfluent readers.