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Exploring the Curriculum

MTA: Soundations Activity Help

Learn to use Soundations Activities for MTA

This article will cover the following:

  • Where to find Soundations Activities
  • Where to find the instructions
  • How to use the manipulatives on the screen

Where to find Soundation Activities

  1. On the initial search screen, choose Soundations underneath the “Filter by Component” drop down.
  2. Next, you can choose the type of Soundations Activity by choosing one under the “Filter by Objective” drop down.

Where to find the instructions

  1. Select the lower left hand corner of the screen to open your instructions
    • You can drag the instructions around the screen
    • You can make the instruction box bigger or smaller depending on your preference

How to use the manipulatives on the screen

  • Click, drag, and drop items using your mouse.
  • If your device is a touch screen, you can use your finger to move items.
  • Students can use the manipulatives, too (just make sure their screen in unlocked)

MTA: Multisensory Letter Introduction (MLI) Activity Help

Learn to use Multisensory Activities for MTA

This article will cover the following:

  • Where to find MLI activities
  • How and why the MLI was broken up into two parts
  • How to find the instructions on the MLI activities
  • How to use Sound Discovery
  • How to use Linkages and Application

Where to find MLI activities

There are two ways to find MLI Activities:

  • Put in the Kit and New Learning
  • Type in MLI into the search bar (this is the easiest way)

How and why the MLI was broken up into 2 parts

The MLI was broken up into the below to make it easier to see. The two parts you have chosen still need to be taught sequentially during your daily lesson (i.e. MLI 1 Sound Discovery, MLI 1 Linkages and Applications):

  • Part 1: Sound Discovery
  • Part 2: Linkages and Application

How to find the instructions

Select the lower left-hand blue outlined button that says “Show instructions”

How to use Sound Discovery

  • Card Decks: Click to flip cards and use arrows
  • Images: Drag and drop icons (i.e. purple dot, arrow, voiced, and unvoiced icons) over the face
  • CV Order Check: Click the green consonant symbol or blue vowel symbol. If incorrectly chosen, click the “x” on the green or blue symbol.

How to use Linkages and Application

  • Card Decks: Click to flip cards and use arrows
  • Images: Drag down the white cover to reveal the alphabet card
  • Card Trick (optional): Use the seafoam green card if you would like to direct the students' attention to cards during task instructors sometimes use the “Card Trick”
  • Whiteboard: Page through the Whiteboard by clicking the arrows in the upper left-hand corner of the Whiteboard to follow linkages. Use instructions in the lower left corner for more details.

What is MTA?

MTA (Multisensory Teaching Approach) is a multisensory curriculum for students identified with dyslexia. It was written by Margaret Taylor Smith, and published in 1987. It meets the description of a multisensory curriculum as it is direct, systematic, explicit, sequential diagnostic, and multisensory. Teachers are highly trained instructors or Certified Academic Language Therapists.

Components of MTA Instruction

MTA is based on the Orton-Gillingham method of systematic instruction, with clearly identified graphemes that are to be taught in a multisensory manner for the prescriptive instruction of dyslexic students in reading, handwriting, and spelling/written expression. Daily components of instruction include:

  • Phonological Awareness
  • Alphabet/Dictionary Practice
  • Letter/Key Word and Sound to Symbol Association
  • New Learning in Reading/Spelling
  • Reading
  • Handwriting
  • Spelling
  • Verbal Expression
  • Review
  • Listening Comprehension

The lesson cycle must be completed in order for the students to adequately progress.

MTA is broken into 7 kits, beginning with the most commonly used graphemes and phonemes in reading/spelling instruction to the most difficult concepts. Students are provided with scaffolded and differentiated instruction, based on their prescriptive needs. Teachers have the ability to adjust the instructional pacing.

According to the curriculum, MTA is to be delivered in a small group setting (1-6 students) for 45 minutes a day/ 5 days a week, or 60 minutes a day/ 4 days a week. Depending on the severity of the student’s dyslexia, a student could remain in the curriculum for three to five years.

MTA and the Science of Reading

The science of reading (also known as structured literacy) is based on the components of good reading instruction, as outlined by the National Reading Panel’s report (2000). The science of reading is “a body of research that incorporates insights and research from disciplines that include developmental psychology, educational psychology, cognitive science, and cognitive neuroscience. The science of reading has been documented around the world, in all languages and cultures, in studies that cost hundreds of millions of dollars. In short, the science of reading has demonstrated the methods that best help children learn to read, from the earliest steps in spoken language to being able to successfully decode unfamiliar words.” (What Is The Science of Reading? Really Great Reading)

The science of reading includes explicit instruction in the areas of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. MTA contains all of the components mentioned in the National Reading Panel report. These parts are evidenced in the curriculum through Soundations! (phonology), single word decoding (reading practice), fluency in phrase/sentence context, morphology - in both new learning and reading instruction and reading/listening comprehension, and verbal expression. All are presented in a simultaneous and multisensory manner in order to maximize the pathways for reading and spelling for students identified with dyslexia.

Bibliography

MTS Publications https://mtspublications.com/?sfw=pass1628518880

National Reading Panel-Teaching Children to Read: An Evidenced Based Assessment on the Scientific Research Literature on Reading And its Implications on Reading Instruction, 2000. https://www.nichd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/publications/pubs/nrp/Documents/report.pdf

Really Great Reading, What is The Science of Reading? https://www.reallygreatreading.com/what-is-the-science-of-reading-and-phonics

MTA Baseline Assessment

This article is to inform the reader of the purpose of a baseline assessment and how to administer it.

Baseline assessment is an assessment that is to be administered to the student before they start their dyslexia training. It is only available for Kit 1.

The components of the baseline assessment are:

  • Alphabet - Assessment components include oral recitation, letter naming of random capital letters, and written alphabet. Errors and difficulties are noted.
  • Reading - Assessment components include naming the lowercase letters, letter sound and student-generated example words, and reading nonsense words. Errors and observations are noted.
  • Handwriting - Students write lowercase letters as dedicated by the instructor. Students may write in either print or cursive. Malformed letters or difficulties with writing- in addition to incorrect letters- are noted by the instructor.
  • Spelling - The instructor dictates individual sounds and nonsense words. The student echoes the sounds/words and writes.

There is not a pass/fail requirement for the baseline assessment. It is data to inform the instructor of the student's strengths and weaknesses before they begin instruction. The baseline assessment is a good diagnostic tool to assess a student’s understanding.

Use the filters in the Activity Library to quickly locate the baseline assessment activities.

Tip: Download the Baseline Assessment Kit 1 Record Form from the MTA Curriculum Resources to aid your assessment. Print and fill in by hand or type directly into the digitized form; and then upload it into the student profile for easy, one-stop data access.

Amplio Training for MTA

MTA Baseline Assessment

Duration: 30 Minutes
Learn how to accurately conduct a baseline assessment for the MTA curriculum with the Amplio platform. For MTA curriculum trained educators.
​

Start the Course

Bibliography

MTS Publications; https://mtspublications.com/.

MTA Reading Probes

A great tool for measuring reading fluency

Measuring reading fluency is an active practice in schools and other learning settings. It is part of the MTA curriculum, and gives educators essential data for tracking student progress. Amplio's reading probe feature digitizes this process, making data collection more rigorous, accurate, and effective.

To access the reading probes from the Classroom, filter activities by component and scroll down to Reading Fluency.

The reading probes are designed to automatically collect, measure, and provide data on student’s reading capabilities. New reading materials will be added to expand the library in the future.

When using a reading probe, present the student with a text from the curriculum and instruct the student to read. Using the on-screen, specially designed stopwatch, you mark the student's errors as they occur over one minute.

The Amplio platform automatically calculates WCPM (Words Correct Per Minute), accuracy, and many more parameters in the background. This accumulated data is automatically added to the session notes and is also available in the student profile along with measurements from other activities.

From the student's profile you are able to review the probe results, listen to the student's audio from the probe, and check your markings to ensure complete accuracy.

Note: The reading probe is also suitable for Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) testing.

Here are some additional points to keep in mind:

  • The same probes can be read again, but mark a different section of the story—one the student hasn't read before. That way, it'll help provide data every two weeks.
  • The story probe prerequisites are found in resources.
  • Be sure you are providing reading probe practice in the same kit your student is working from.

Amplio Training for MTA

MTA Reading Probe

Duration: 30 Minutes
Learn how to accurately conduct spelling and reading probes for the Amplio platform. For MTA curriculum trained educators.

Start the Course

MTA Spelling Probes

Measure student spelling progress

An essential component of the MTA curriculum is the spelling probe. Spelling probes should be performed every two weeks to evaluate student progress in the spelling portion of the curriculum. Amplio has digitized the process to make conducting spelling probes efficient and repeatable with software assisted evaluation and data collection.

Getting Started

Spelling probe activities are assigned according to the "MTA Spelling Probe Prerequisite List" that you can access and download from the Resources tab.

To access the reading probes from the Classroom, filter activities by component and scroll down to MTA Spelling.

Conducting the Probe

Select and assign the appropriate activity for your student. In the activity, there is a list of words along the left edge of the probe in a preset order.

As with all activities, select the Show instructions icon in the activity to reveal a script and detailed steps for how to run the spelling probe activity. Follow the activity instructions to get started and introduce the first word.

From their screen, the student will follow the save our spelling (SOS) steps to spell out the word and submit their answer. After submitting, the student is not able to change their answer and it is your turn to introduce the next word. The platform automatically determines if the spelling submitted is correct and documents any miscues and their causes.

The tool detects and categorizes each miscue into two parts or levels:

After completing the probe, evaluate the automated findings and edit them for 100% accuracy. For Concept errors, you may need to select the Level 2 classification from the dropdown menu.

Note: A word may have more than one error type.

You can add an error or replace the automated errors to address unique student responses.

Once each incorrect word has been evaluated, select Done to complete the probe and continue the session.

Reviewing the Data

All probe data is tracked and the results are available in the student profile for later analysis. To review the results in their profile after the session:

1. Navigate to the Students and Groups page and select the student's name from your list

2. Select the student's profile button to reveal their profile data and scroll down to the Spelling category

3. Select the bar graph for the session you want to view

4. When the probe report opens, select the Show words button to view and make any final changes to the spelling probe data.

Visit the help center for more articles and videos about specific features of the platform, curriculum related guidance, and general troubleshooting.

Amplio Training for MTA

MTA Spelling Probe

Duration: 30 Minutes
Learn how to accurately conduct spelling and reading probes for the Amplio platform. For MTA curriculum trained educators.

Start the Course

MTA Handwriting

Along with other important MTA curriculum related documentation and aids, the resource tab contains the necessary forms needed to practice, assess, and document your student's handwriting progression.

Prepare for your onsite sessions by first visiting the Resources tab and then download/print:

  • Handwriting Masters 1-8 (for students)
  • Handwriting Record Forms (to grade/track handwriting progress)
  • Handwriting Mastery Checks 1-4

For remote students, print the Handwriting Record Forms to grade/track student handwriting. For student practice, you have a couple of options. You can use activity 5062 along with the whiteboard or you can email the handwriting practice forms to the student for them to print. Once they practice, the student can hold the work up to the camera, use a document camera, or even scan and return.

For a comprehensive list of all downloadable resources visit How to download from the resource library.

MTA Handwriting

Along with other important MTA curriculum related documentation and aids, the resource tab contains the necessary forms needed to practice, assess, and document your student's handwriting progression.

Prepare for your onsite sessions by first visiting the Resources tab and then download/print:

  • Handwriting Masters 1-8 (for students)
  • Handwriting Record Forms (to grade/track handwriting progress)
  • Handwriting Mastery Checks 1-4

For remote students, print the Handwriting Record Forms to grade/track student handwriting. For student practice, you have a couple of options. You can use activity 5062 along with the whiteboard or you can email the handwriting practice forms to the student for them to print. Once they practice, the student can hold the work up to the camera, use a document camera, or even scan and return.

For a comprehensive list of all downloadable resources visit How to download from the resource library.

MTA Mastery Check

This article provides an overview of administering Mastery Checks.

Mastery Checks occur at the end of each kit (1-7), and only once the student has completed each of the reading/spelling lessons for the current kit. It consists of reading/spelling components learned from current and past kits, as well as alphabet skills.

Reading- The teacher begins the assessment with the provided script from form A. The student is provided a list of twenty words that contains previously learned graphemes. The student is asked to prepare the words by reading silently. When ready, the student will read the words aloud. The teacher marks the miscues. The student is allowed to make a maximum of two errors or 90%.If the student does not pass form A with two or fewer errors, the teacher will provide additional instructional time with reading components in kit 1 for reteaching.

After two weeks, the teacher will reassess the student using form B. Mastery is two errors(90%) or better.

Spelling- The teacher begins the assessment with the provided script for list 1 reviewing the SOS procedures with the student. The student is assessed on the written copy, not the procedures or handwriting quality. The teacher dictates words from list 1, and analyzes the miscues. Along with the student, the data from the assessment is reviewed. If the student does not pass form 1 with two or fewer errors, the teacher will provide additional instructional time with spelling components in kit 1 for reteaching. After two weeks, the teacher will reassess the student using list 2. Mastery is two errors or better.

Alphabet- Formal evaluation of each student’s progress is accomplished through twelve Mastery Checks in the alphabet activities. A mastery check should only be administered once the student is ready and can be successful. The Alphabet Mastery Checks include:

  • Oral Alphabet Recitation
  • Semicircle Sequential Placement
  • Naming Capital Letters
  • Before/After Skills
  • Naming Lowercase Letters
  • Quartile Letters
  • Alphabetizing Words:
    • Fourth Letter
    • First and Second Letter
    • Third and Fourth Letters
  • Dictionary:
    • Using Quartiles
    • Using Guide Words
    • Locating Words in a Dictionary

Mastery for each Alphabet Mastery Check is no errors. If a student makes an error, re-administration with the same form is required after two weeks of reteaching.

Bibliography

MTS Publications; https://mtspublications.com/ .

How to Download From the Resource Library

Have you ever wanted to print the MTA curriculum resource documents?

As an MTA interventionist, you can use the resource library to view helpful resources, such as curriculum documents, to aid your session planning and preparation.

In addition to viewing these documents, you can download a number of them for offline use and printing. Most are even available as both PDF and Word Docs to suit your needs.

Note: Due to copyright restrictions, not all curriculum documents are available for download

To download an available resource:

Select the desired document title and type (PDF or Word Doc) from the resource library to view it in a new browser tab.

PDF documents eligible for downloading will preview in a new browser tab along with a download icon. Select the download icon to view the document as a PDF with your system tools where you can save locally or print.

Word Doc files will not preview in a new browser tab. You will instead see the message "Failed to load PDF file" along with the download icon. Select the download icon to save the file locally and use Microsoft Word to open.

Downloadable resources currently available:

Handwriting

  • Handwriting Practice Record Form (Downloadable/Printable Fillable PDF)
  • 1-Handwriting Masters (Downloadable/Printable)
  • 2-Handwriting Masters (Downloadable/Printable)
  • 3-Handwriting Masters (Downloadable/Printable)
  • 4-Handwriting Masters (Downloadable/Printable)
  • 5-Handwriting Masters (Downloadable/Printable)
  • 6-Handwriting Masters (Downloadable/Printable)
  • 7-Handwriting Masters (Downloadable/Printable)
  • 8-Handwriting Masters (Downloadable/Printable)
  • Class Handwriting Record (Downloadable/Printable)
  • Student Handwriting Record (Downloadable/Printable)
  • Handwriting Mastery Check 1 (Downloadable/Printable)
  • Handwriting Mastery Check 2 (Downloadable/Printable)
  • Handwriting Mastery Check 3 (Downloadable/Printable)
  • Handwriting Mastery Check 4 (Downloadable/Printable)

Kit 1

  • Master Lesson Plan Kit 1 (Downloadable/Printable Word Doc)
  • Master Lesson Plan Kit 1 (Downloadable/Printable PDF)
  • Kit 1 Material Organizer (Downloadable/Printable PDF)
  • Baseline Assessment Kit 1 Record Form (Downloadable/Printable PDF)

Kit 2

  • Master Lesson Plan Kit 2 (Downloadable/Printable Word Doc)
  • Master Lesson Plan Kit 2 (Downloadable/Printable PDF)
  • Kit 2 Material Organizer (Downloadable/Printable PDF)

Kit 3

  • Master Lesson Plan Kit 3 (Downloadable/Printable Word Doc)
  • Master Lesson Plan Kit 3 (Downloadable/Printable PDF)
  • Kit 3 Material Organizer (Downloadable/Printable PDF)

Kit 4

  • Master Lesson Plan Kit 4 (Downloadable/Printable Word Doc)
  • Master Lesson Plan Kit 4 (Downloadable/Printable PDF)
  • Kit 4 Material Organizer (Downloadable/Printable PDF)

Kit 5

  • Master Lesson Plan Kit 5 (Downloadable/Printable Word Doc)
  • Master Lesson Plan Kit 5 (Downloadable/Printable PDF)
  • Kit 5 Material Organizer (Downloadable/Printable PDF)

Kit 6

  • Master Lesson Plan Kit 6 (Downloadable/Printable Word Doc)
  • Master Lesson Plan Kit 6 (Downloadable/Printable PDF)
  • Kit 6 Material Organizer (Downloadable/Printable PDF)

Kit 7

  • Master Lesson Plan Kit 7 (Downloadable/Printable Word Doc)
  • Master Lesson Plan Kit 7 (Downloadable/Printable PDF)
  • Kit 7 Material Organizer (Downloadable/Printable PDF)

General

  • MTA Reading Probe Prerequisite List (Downloadable/Printable PDF)
  • MTA Activity Names and ID Numbers (Downloadable/Printable PDF)
  • Blank Lesson Plan Kit 1 (Downloadable/Printable Word Doc)
  • Blank Lesson Plan Kit 1 (Downloadable/Printable PDF)
  • Blank Lesson Plan Kit 2, 3, 4 (Downloadable/Printable Word Doc)
  • Blank Lesson Plan Kit 2, 3, 4 (Downloadable/Printable PDF)
  • Blank Lesson Plan Kit 5, 6, 7 (Downloadable/Printable Word Doc)
  • Blank Lesson Plan Kit 5, 6, 7 (Downloadable/Printable PDF)
  • Scope and Sequence (Downloadable/Printable Fillable PDF)
  • MTA Coding, Suffix/Prefix, Vowel, & Syllable Division Charts (Downloadable/Printable)
  • MTA Spelling Probe Prerequisite List (Downloadable/Printable PDF)

Soundations

  • Soundations Master Lesson Plan (Downloadable/Printable Word Doc)
  • Soundations Master Lesson Plan (Downloadable/Printable PDF)
  • Phonological Awareness Inventory Record (Downloadable/Printable Fillable PDF)

We're glad you are here! Check out the help center to learn more about how Amplio can help you and your students succeed.

How Do Students Log in to Their MTA Sessions?

Learn exactly what to do to get your students logged in quickly and easily for their MTA dyslexia intervention sessions.

To help your students log in to their MTA sessions:

  1. Select the session you want to begin from the welcome message when you first log in (A), select the session from the Classroom (B), or select the session from the Calendar (C).

2. Select start

3. After the session starts, select Show invite code in the top right, which shows the QR code, the session URL, and the class code.

4. Share the login info with your students.
  • If students have a device with a camera, selecting Scan QR code is a great choice for them to enter sessions (A).
  • If they do not have a camera, here are are another 2 options:
    • You or the student can open the session URL, where the intervention takes place, on the device and enter the alphanumeric class code (B).
    • You can select the Copy link button (C) and send it to your student via email or in an LMS. The link combines the session URL and the class code all together. The student opens the link on their device.

Note: Changing a group's participants while you are scheduling on the calendar will change the class code, but it might be best to keep your class code the same. One way to keep the class code the same is by first duplicating the session, then editing the new session as needed.

If your groups and session times are stable, we suggest you create a browser bookmark for the class login link for your students, and/or show them how to bookmark it. See this article for more about bookmarking in Google Chrome.

5. Once your students select the login link, they will enter their first and last names to join the session.

Active students appear on the right side of the classroom. Once students are active, they are able to follow along with you when you present or assign them activities during your sessions.

If you need the session link and class codes without starting a session:

  1. Select the session on your calendar
  2. Select the class code from the session information

Don’t stop here! There’s lots more to explore. If you haven't already, check out this article about bookmarking your session links in your browser. We’re glad you’re here!