The Ooka Island Learn-to-Read System for Schools

ABOUT OOKA ISLAND:

Ooka Island Inc. is an early education company committed to providing research-based literacy programs for preschool, kindergarten, first and second grade students. According to The Nation’s Report Card (NAEP) in 2011, 68% of fourth graders were at least one grade level behind in reading. The mission of Ooka Island is to ensure that all children have a solid foundation in reading at an early age so they can continue to learn without limitation.

Ooka Island’s anchor product is an adaptive Learn-to-Read System for PC and Mac computers. It includes the following four core elements:

1. Effectiveness
2. Adaptive Learning
3. Real-Time Reporting
4. Blended Learning

Effectiveness

Ooka Island was created by top reading researcher and founder of the Eye / Ear Reading Method, Dr. Kay MacPhee, and is based on 30+ years of reading research. In 2008, Dr. MacPhee’s reading concepts were recognized by the US Department of Education’s What Works Clearing House, the leading authority in analyzing results of educational programs in the United States, as the top in reading comprehension out of 153 reading programs.

The Ooka Island Learn-to-Read System provides a play-based learning environment and includes 562 meticulously scaffolded phonological skill activities and a built-in E-Reader packed with 85 carefully leveled and sequenced e-Books. The program aligns with the US Common Core State Standards and is effective for children reading below the early 2nd grade reading level.

Adaptive Learning

Individualized instruction is based on each child’s interaction with The Ooka Island Learn-to-Read System. Built-in assessment continuously adapts the difficulty and pace of the program to ensure each child is always on his or her most efficient path to skill mastery and reading success. A learning algorithm called READirect combined with it’s robust curriculum make Ooka Island an ideal resource in the following range of instructional settings:

• In classroom centers students use Ooka Island to work independently in a meaningful learning environment
• In the computer lab whole classes learn independently, or small groups receive pull-out instruction with reading specialists
• Teachers use Ooka Island in large and small-group instructional settings, and on a 1-to-1 basis, to help all students excel in reading
• In a reading intervention program, Ooka Island is appropriate for all three tiers of Response to Intervention (RTI)
• For enrichment, accelerated learners are appropriately challenged and able to quickly move ahead to a higher level of reading by taking theOoka Compass Reading Assessment
• During summer school, frequent use of Ooka Island increases reading proficiency
• Before and after school programs give all students the opportunity to excel in reading
• When students get additional time on Ooka Island at home, they demonstrate additional proficiency and progress
• Ooka Island is an ideal learning resource for English Language Learners (ELL)   

Real-time Progress Reporting

Ooka Island includes a robust data-reporting system called the Ooka Lighthouse with dashboards for educators and administrators to track student progress.The Ooka Lighthouse provides account holders with the ability to track demographic information including ESL, IEP, special education, ethnicity, grade, and age. Progress reporting can be viewed for individual students, small groups, classes, schools, and districts. The reporting system provides valuable and actionable data for all of its users. Each dashboard gives the user a real-time view of student progress and detailed descriptions of the reading concepts learned. Progress update emails are also sent out to designated account holders as students achieve important academic milestones in the program.

A reading assessment called the Ooka Compass can be enabled within the Lighthouse Reporting System for students who would benefit from being placed at a higher reading level in the Ooka Island program.

Blended Learning

Although The Ooka Island Learn-to-Read System is a standalone program, it can be enhanced with teacher-led instructional materials and hands-on vocabulary and comprehension activities; making Ooka Island a dynamic blended learning solution for educators. Ooka Island can also be brought up on the SMART Boards and with many assistive technologies as it only uses point and click (no keyboard necessary). There is musical Ooka Island app for the iPad/iPhone as well as a printed library collection of 95 leveled Ooka Island Books. They are the same leveled books from the e-Reader in The Ooka Island Learn-to-Read System.

The Ooka Island Learn-to-Read System has a rigorous curriculum, delivered through an advanced adaptive learning technology, and taught in a way that makes learning fun. The program develops phonologic and phonic skills, as well as fluency, vocabulary, and reading comprehension that align with theCommon Core State Standards. Teachers and administrators get a detailed view of the progress each student is making in The Ooka Lighthouse Reporting System. (Learn how independent research has proven the effective concepts behind Ooka Island.)

Is Ooka Island easy to implement and use?

Flexible student licensing and simple account set-up make Ooka Island easy to implement and scale from a classroom or computer lab to a whole school or district.

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What are educators saying about Ooka Island?

More Testimonials

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