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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.

Eye Ear Reading Method on Ooka Island

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.

Lighthouse Reporting System

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.

Blended Learning on Ooka Island

Why use Ooka Island with your students?

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.

What are educators saying about Ooka Island?

Ooka Island’s Adventure has been a wonderful way for our Kindergarten and First Grade Students to reinforce and practice early literacy skills. Students are very engaged in each of the activities at the various islands. The motivating graphics hold their attention! I was so excited to see that leveled text is a part of this program allowing students to utilize the skills they are learning in authentic text. The administrative side of the program is easy to use and offers a variety of reports to view student progress. The ability to leave students a positive sticker and the way the program emails me to congratulate students helps to motivate students. Our school is very excited about the possibilities with Ooka Island Adventure!

- Karen Craney

Reading Specialist at Spring Ridge Elementary School in Frederick, MD

Travelling to Ooka Island each day is a fun, interactive activity for young learners. It enables them to work with letters, sounds, words and books. The constant positive reinforcement encourages even the most hesitant learners. It is exciting for me to listen to my kindergarten students try new sounds and “talk” to the computer. Everyone returns to the classroom feeling Ooka….riffic!!!!

- Wendy Walker

Kindergarten Teacher at John J. Sark Elementary School in Lennox Island, PE

It is especially appropriate for ELLs (English Language Learners). The second reading of a book is important for young readers and I love the idea of questioning about what was read. It causes the student to focus on the story in order to be successful. - Phyllis Solomon

Computer Teacher at P.S. 031 Bayside in Queens, NY

Ooka Island is such a great fit for my classroom. It meets my students on the technology platforms they so love being on and it provides them with a challenging and entertaining method of reading instruction – no matter what their skill level is. And I know it is working for them because I can monitor progress with the real-time reporting before and after each session.

- 1st Grade Teacher

What an amazing reading program! Thank you so much!

- Skill II Teacher

This will be a big help. It’s nice to work with a company that actually cares about its customers!

- 2nd Grade Teacher

I have found the Ooka Island books to be an excellent resource for emergent readers. What I find most helpful is the large font size, large enough to be seen clearly by young readers, but not too large to be inappropriate. The same characters being used throughout the entire series is extremely helpful. The students love seeing Kayla, and Jazmin as they work through the series. And of course, Boo. All of the students seem to relate the best to him. As the books increase in difficulty, I am pleased to see more adjectives and more complex language structure used than in other series. This provides students opportunities to practice word solving skills at a much more challenging level. I highly recommend Ooka Island books for intervention teachers and reading teachers who work with Kindergarten through Second grade students. They are well written and well designed.

- Barbara Shelley

Reading Recovery Teacher Leader at Frederick County Public Schools in MD

Ooka Island Books have an appropriately leveled library, constant exposure to high frequency words, and easy to follow entertaining stories allow children to feel successful and enjoy reading from an early age. These components and more make Ooka Island’s print program a great supplemental package.

- Kathy P.

Reading Specialist

The students love the readers. They ask almost everyday if they can read one of them. Thanks!

- Melissa

Connections Teacher

More Testimonials

Contact an Ooka Island Learning Support Representative