Direct instruction: Instruction characterized by high rates of teacher involvement and control during the initial stages of information acquisition and careful performance monitoring as the learner gradually assumes control over application; structured, modular, and sequential instruction that emphasizes practice and mastery and provides a high level of successful experiences and positive feedback to the student.

Echo reading: A procedure used to help build reading fluency. During this activity, the teacher or coach reads a section and, while reading, models the appropriate phrasing, pace, and expression. Students then "echo read" the same phrase or sentence trying to use the coach's phrasing, pace and expression. The teacher or coach gives corrective feedback when needed and tries to increase the number of sentences read each time. If the student makes errors, it may be necessary for the coach to read fewer sentences or to repeat what was read.

Explicit: Completely and clearly expressed without ambiguity or vagueness; fully developed. Example: Explicit instructions would leave no doubt in your mind about how you were to proceed. Every part would be 'spelled out'.

Fluency: In the area of reading, the skill of reading with accuracy, speed, and ease.

Intensive instruction: A way of directing student attention in which sufficient time is spent in teacher-guided interactive learning activities and a high degree of goal-directed student engagement leads to student mastery and generalization.

Peer assisted learning strategies (PALS): A program that provides a comprehensive reading package designed to enhance comprehension by directing student partners to engage in reading activities that require them to become active learners.

Phonics: The systematic way that specific letters or graphemes are used to represent the different phonemes in spoken words.

Phonological awareness: The broadest term used to refer to one's sensitivity to the sound structures of words. The ability to recognize and manipulate different sizes of sound units, including syllables, rhyming units, onset rime units and phonemes.

Reading comprehension: The process or result of gaining intended and personal meaning from written material.

Responsive instruction: A way of making teaching decisions in which a student's reaction to instruction directly shapes how future instruction is provided.

Sight word: A word that is instantly recognized as a whole when seen and requires no analysis for identification.

Speech language pathologist: A trained professional who helps students who have language and speech deficiencies.

Systematic instruction: A way of organizing learning experiences so that both the teacher and the student follow and continuously review a dynamic plan related to how new content will be learned and how that new content relates to past and future learning.

Word recognition: The ability to identify and read a word and understand its meaning.