Fusion Reading

Fusion Reading is a comprehensive 2-year supplemental reading program designed to significantly narrow the reading achievement gap for middle school students (grades 6-8) with reading disabilities who typically score two or more grade levels below grade placement. The program includes seven instructional units covering phonics, decoding, word recognition, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension strategies. Students meet in small groups of 3-8 students for 50-minute sessions five times per week. The program uses explicit instruction with a structured Daily Lesson Format that includes Warm-up, Thinking Reading, Explicit Strategy Instruction, Vocabulary, and Wrap-up activities. A unique feature is that students apply reading skills and strategies directly to core class materials (language arts, science, social studies, math) approximately 65% of the time, supporting generalization. Teachers receive extensive professional development including initial 3-day training, ongoing coaching, and additional training sessions throughout implementation.