Resource 4 - HELPS One-on-One Program

Begeny, J. (2013). The HELPS program: Helping early literacy with practices strategies. Retrieved from: https://helpsprogram.org

        The resource ‘The HELPS Program: Helping Early Literacy with Practices strategies’ is an up-to-date website that focuses on the importance of fluency in reading, and as such the significance of fluency to comprehending what is read. The website is easy to navigate and provides information on the HELPS Program with regard to one-on-one and small groups programs. Samples of materials used in the program are downloadable, and a demonstration video of the program is also available. Access to the program’s material (in downloadable format) is free by creating an account, but it is also possible to purchase the set of three HELPS books (Teacher's Manual, student passages, and teacher passages) for a fee of $55. In addition to providing a comprehensive background of the HELPS Program, the site also provides information about additional research publications that validate the relationship of reading fluency to comprehension.

        This resource promotes the ‘Learning by Design’ pedagogy as teachers would be responsible for adapting and implementing the HELPS Program within their classroom to incorporate the ‘knowledge processes’ to develop individual students’ reading knowledges and skills. With its foundation centring on the fluency of reading to aid in comprehension, the HELPS Program uses mainly the resources of ‘Code Breaker’ and ‘Meaning Maker’ from the Four Resources Model. The HELPS Program would be beneficial for use with the Australian Curriculum English Content Descriptors with regard to the Literacy Strand in the areas of ‘interpreting, analysing, and evaluating’ for all year levels. Throughout Foundation Year to Year 4, the English Content Descriptors with regard to reading and comprehension would include ACELY1649, ACELY1659, ACELY1669, ACELY1679, ACELY1691, ACELY1650; ACELY1660, ACELY1670; ACELY1680; and ACELY1692.

        The HELPS Program is a valuable resource with regards to the assessment of reading and implementation of teaching programs to assist students of all reading levels and abilities as this website is easy to navigate, the program itself is comprehensively explained and simple in its implementation, with minimal financial outlay and aligns closely to the Australian English Curriculum Literacy Strand.