Comprehensive comparison and contrast of early literacy programs

 Comprehensive comparison and contrast of early literacy programs, including Montessori Early Literacy and Words Their Way, as well as other commonly used curricula. This comparison includes instructional approach, target ages/grades, use in Tier 1/Tier 2/Tier 3 interventions, and key similarities and differences.

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🔍 COMPARATIVE TABLE

Program	Approach	Age/Grade Range	Instructional Tier	Key Strengths	Delivery Format
Montessori Early Literacy	Phonics-based, tactile, multisensory, student-led	Ages 3–6 (Pre-K–K), sometimes into early elementary	Tier 1 (universal); can be adapted for Tier 2/3	Focuses on phonemic awareness, sound-symbol correspondence, writing before reading	Hands-on materials (sandpaper letters, moveable alphabet, phonetic readers)
Words Their Way	Developmental spelling, phonics, vocabulary; word study	K–8 (grouped by spelling stage, not grade)	Tier 1 (core), Tier 2 (small group)	Differentiation by spelling stage, word sorting for deeper understanding	Sort-based activities, journals, group instruction
Reading Eggs	Game-based, interactive, leveled phonics and reading lessons	Pre-K–2nd grade (ages 4–7)	Tier 1 & Tier 2 (practice & reinforcement)	Highly engaging, adaptive to skill level, builds fluency	Online, app-based with assessments
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons	Direct Instruction (DISTAR method); synthetic phonics	Age 4–7 (pre-K to 2nd grade)	Tier 2 or Tier 3 (home or tutoring)	Systematic and scripted, phonemic awareness + decoding	Scripted book for parent/teacher
Teach Your Monster to Read	Game-based, synthetic phonics & phonemic awareness	Pre-K–1st grade (ages 3–6)	Tier 1 & Tier 2 (engagement or intervention)	High motivation, visual support, repeated practice	Online/app-based
Hooked on Phonics	Explicit phonics instruction with practice readers	Pre-K–2nd grade (ages 4–7)	Tier 1 or Tier 2	Structured, good for decoding and fluency practice	Physical kits + digital resources
Fountas & Pinnell LLI	Guided reading, leveled texts, teacher-led	K–5 (intervention for below-grade readers)	Tier 2 or Tier 3 (pull-out/small group)	Rich text exposure, comprehension + fluency	Structured, scripted small group lessons
Wilson Fundations	Structured Literacy (Orton-Gillingham influenced)	K–3 general ed, 4–6 intervention	Tier 1 (core for K–1), Tier 2/3 (intensive support)	Multisensory, cumulative, decoding, encoding	Direct, systematic phonics with print materials

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✅ SIMILARITIES

1. Phonics-Based Instruction:

   • All programs (except Montessori in its purest form) include phonics, but the depth and method vary.

   • Wilson Fundations, Hooked on Phonics, 100 Easy Lessons, and Reading Eggs emphasize systematic phonics.

   • Montessori introduces phonics through multisensory experiences and phonetic word building.

2. Focus on Early Literacy Skills:

   • All are designed for emergent to early readers (pre-K to grade 2/3).

   • Emphasis on phonemic awareness, decoding, and fluency.

3. Flexibility Across Tiers:

   • Most can be adapted across MTSS/RTI Tiers:

     • Tier 1: Core instruction (Montessori, Reading Eggs, Hooked on Phonics)

     • Tier 2: Strategic intervention (LLI, Words Their Way small group, Reading Eggs)

     • Tier 3: Intensive support (Wilson Fundations, 100 Easy Lessons)

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🔍 KEY DIFFERENCES

Program	Distinctives
Montessori Early Literacy	Prioritizes writing before reading; no traditional leveled books; uses tactile materials to teach sounds and letters; child-led discovery.
Words Their Way	Groups students by developmental spelling stages (emergent, letter-name, within-word, etc.); focuses on how words work—patterns, features, and meanings.
Reading Eggs	Fully digital; automatically adjusts difficulty level; includes mini-assessments; ideal for independent reinforcement.
100 Easy Lessons	Scripted and teacher/parent-directed; no tech or frills; focuses on phonemic awareness and decoding in a tight, structured sequence.
Teach Your Monster to Read	Game-like format ideal for reluctant readers or home use; less structured than other programs but engaging.
Hooked on Phonics	Combines readers with phonics instruction; used at home or school; limited differentiation.
Fountas & Pinnell LLI	Guided reading model with strong teacher mediation; emphasizes fluency and comprehension with leveled texts; criticized for lack of phonics focus.
Wilson Fundations	Highly structured and multisensory; used for both core and intensive intervention; well-aligned with the Science of Reading.

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🎯 MTSS APPLICATION BREAKDOWN

Tier	Appropriate Programs
Tier 1 (Core)	Montessori, Words Their Way (in classrooms), Reading Eggs, Hooked on Phonics, Wilson Fundations (K–1 core)
Tier 2 (Strategic Support)	Reading Eggs, Words Their Way, Teach Your Monster to Read, Hooked on Phonics, Wilson Fundations (grades 2–3), LLI
Tier 3 (Intensive Intervention)	100 Easy Lessons, Wilson Fundations (grades 2–6), LLI (pull-out), Words Their Way (individualized), Teach Your Monster to Read

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🧠 RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON CONTEXT

• Homeschoolers: 100 Easy Lessons, Hooked on Phonics, Montessori, Teach Your Monster

• Schools looking for SoR-aligned: Wilson Fundations, structured Montessori with phonogram training, or a hybrid OG approach

• Differentiation and Word Study: Words Their Way is ideal for understanding spelling development

• Engagement + practice: Reading Eggs and Teach Your Monster to Read provide practice but benefit from pairing with explicit instruction

• Balanced literacy schools: F&P LLI fits traditional models but lacks strong phonics foundations—best when paired with a phonics-based Tier 1

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Would you like a visual chart or printable parent handout comparing these for meetings or training?