Waterford Early Reading Program

Waterford Early Reading Program (WERP) is a technology-based reading program designed to teach children to read, write, and keyboard in early elementary grades, specifically kindergarten. The program uses computer software integrated into learning activities and is research-based. WERP addresses emergent reading skills including Initial Sound Fluency, Letter Naming Fluency, Word Use Fluency, Phoneme Segmentation Fluency, and Nonsense Word Fluency. The program was implemented in 15 Title I elementary schools in the Tucson Unified School District during the 2005-06 school year, targeting kindergarten students with high rates of free/reduced lunch eligibility. Students used the WERP software for varying amounts of time, with the study focusing on students who had at least 1100 minutes (approximately 6 months) of usage. The program includes multiple levels (Reading Level 1, Reading Level 2, and Phonological Awareness components) that students progress through based on their individual needs and abilities.