SoR Content Guidelines
AIR Language was created with the Science of Reading in mind. The 5 pillars of SoR are phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. We have established structures within the app that ensure all are attended to.
We write and organize our books using three key metrics:
Sentence Complexity
Level 1 begins with simple sentences, and by the time students arrive at level 4​​ they will have seen simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences.
Grammatical Sequence
Arranged according to Stephen Krashen's work on sequencing in acquisition, books ​gradually introduce new grammatical schema as students are ready to acquire them.
Functionality of Vocabulary
Books are written with vocabulary that is useful for varying stages of language development and interaction with English speakers; lower levels of books contain more concrete, everyday language, useful at school with friends, and new meetings, while the vocabulary used in upper levels is more abstract and tends toward the more directly related to different contexts.
Teacher, Marietta City Schools
“The students who read did better in their other classes."
The 5 pillars of SoR:
01.
Phonological Awareness (spoken/oral sounds)
AIR Language enhances students' phonological awareness with decodable texts paired with read-aloud features. These texts connect sight-based phonics to oral phonological awareness, allowing students to strengthen their ability to recognize and manipulate spoken sounds. The platform also encourages students to read aloud and record their voices, further reinforcing their phonological skills.
02.
Phonics
Phonics instruction is tailored to students' English Language Proficiency (ELP) levels with leveled decodable texts. The platform includes quizzes on decodables and activities like minimal pairs and letter selection exercises, helping students understand the relationship between sounds and their corresponding letters. Additionally, instructional videos provide auditory reinforcement, enhancing phonics learning.
03.
Fluency (speed, accuracy, and proper expression)
To build fluency, AIR Language offers features that allow students to read aloud and record themselves, promoting speed, accuracy, and proper expression. The read-aloud functionality of texts on the platform models fluent reading, demonstrating the appropriate rhythm and intonation needed for effective oral reading.
04.
Vocabulary
AIR Language supports vocabulary development by moving from high-frequency "sight words" to more context-dependent vocabulary. The platform grounds vocabulary comprehension through the use of concrete images, particularly for infrequent words, helping students internalize and understand new vocabulary in meaningful contexts.
05.
Comprehension
AIR Language strengthens reading comprehension with quizzes that gradually increase in difficulty, aligned with WIDA standards. The platform's amended CELL protocol is designed to foster rich discussions with students as they read, promoting deeper understanding and critical thinking.
Decodable Texts
Our decodable texts are written for people learning English.
Every text features a particular sound, and students are given the opportunity to listen to those sounds to their own contentment.
Conversations with Ari
During conversations with Ari, students are encouraged to consult the books they are reading, and to speak with fluency in their conversations. Ari is designed to ask follow up questions and to give multiple opportunities to answer them.
Appropriate Vocabulary
Much of the time, books written at low lexile levels are childish and contain infantile themes. The books in our library are written specifically for secondary students or older who are learning English. They contain vocabulary and phrases that apply directly to their needs.
