Essential Skills

Essential Skills is an online learning program designed to enhance student learning in reading, math, English language learning (ELL), and science. According to the vendor, it is specifically developed for K-6 students, older remedial students, special education, and response to intervention (RTI). The program is used in over 20,000 schools across North America and is suitable for schools of various sizes. It is utilized by teachers, special education teachers, English language learning (ELL) teachers, RTI coordinators, and school administrators in various professions and industries.

Key Features

Individualized Learning: Essential Skills uses an Integrated Assessment feature to generate personalized learning programs for each student based on their specific needs. Pretests are administered to identify learning gaps, and the software creates custom programs to target those gaps. This feature is said to be particularly beneficial for special education students and those with individualized education plans (IEPs).

Immediate Reward & Reinforcement: According to the vendor, Essential Skills provides instant reward and reinforcement to students as they work. Correct answers are immediately rewarded and reinforced following each response. This feature is said to help motivate students and keep them engaged in their learning.

Minimal Distraction: The reading programs for special education offered by Essential Skills are designed to minimize unnecessary distractions, as claimed by the vendor. The programs have minimal animation and focus on the core skills being taught. This design is said to be especially beneficial for students with special needs who may be easily overstimulated or distracted.

Appropriate for All Ages: Essential Skills programs are claimed to be suitable for students of all ages, from elementary to high school and even adult learners. The programs offer flexibility in selecting program themes and reward types to cater to different age groups. According to the vendor, they can be used as reading programs for special education high school students or for adult education.

Designed for All Learning Styles & Ability Levels: Essential Skills programs include a variety of auditory, visual, and tactile activities to cater to different learning styles, as stated by the vendor. Skills are presented gradually and sequentially, ensuring success for all students, regardless of ability level. The programs are designed to address the needs of auditory, visual, and tactile learners.

Ideal for Students with Autism: According to the vendor, Essential Skills programs are well-suited for students with Autism, providing the repetition and immediate reinforcement needed for their learning. The programs include multiple activities to reinforce each skill, ensuring standards mastery. The repetitive nature of the programs is said to help students with Autism grasp and retain the skills being taught.

Developed by Special Education Teachers: Essential Skills programs are developed by Special Education teachers with extensive experience, according to the vendor. The programs are grounded in research-based strategies and best practices for teaching basic skills. The expertise of the developers ensures that the programs meet the specific needs of students with special needs.

Integrated Assessment: The vendor claims that Essential Skills tailors instruction for each student based on pretest results, targets specific skill gaps, and provides a customized early reading intervention program for individual needs.

Elementary Reading Intervention Programs: According to the vendor, Essential Skills supplements instruction in Tier I and II stages, allows learners to progress independently, can be used in a group or classroom setting, and can be incorporated with an interactive whiteboard for teacher-led lessons.

Research-Based Reading Components: Essential Skills provides systematic instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, sight word recognition, vocabulary, and reading comprehension, as stated by the vendor. It is designed for high-risk elementary and remedial older students and focuses on essential reading components that are crucial for student success.