Phyllis Bertin, Eileen Perlman

Preventing Academic Failure (PAF) Program

Reading Intervention
Grades K–6
Tiers 1, 2, & 3
Print Format

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A Multisensory Curriculum for Teaching Reading, Spelling, and Handwriting

After many years of using the Orton-Gillingham approach to teach reading in resource room settings, the authors of PAF (Preventing Academic Failure) set out to offer this same effective instruction for all students in general education classrooms. PAF is a comprehensive three-year program for teaching reading, writing, and spelling in the primary grades using multisensory techniques. PAF is designed to prevent reading failure in children with learning disabilities when begun in kindergarten or first grade, but it can also be used as an effective beginning reading program for all children, as it incorporates the reading practices supported by scientific research. The program includes a teacher's guide with over 200 lessons, and 4 student books.

Empower Beginning Readers to Master Essential Reading, Spelling and Handwriting Skills

PAF Teacher Handbook

Provides a detailed guide to using all the materials in a sequence of unified lessons.
Clearly written, step-by-step instructions for teaching reading, spelling, and handwriting using multisensory techniques.
Provides a sequence of over 200 lessons that includes reading material for fluency and comprehension, as well as words and sentences for spelling instruction.
Contains assessment tests to monitor progress.

PAF Handwriting Program

Enables all students — even those with graphomotor weaknesses — to write easily and legibly.
Features books focused on print, numerals, and cursive writing:
- Visual, auditory, and kinesthetic elements are integrated with visual clues for proper letter formation.
- Writing lines are given names to help students remember letter size and placement.
Works as an important part of the PAF reading program and can also be used as a stand-alone classroom handwriting program.

Pocket Chart Alphabet Cards

Contain two alphabet sets (vowels are color-coded) for teaching phonemic awareness, sound-symbol associations, and spelling, and is used with a pocket chart. (3" x 4")

Cursive Alphabet Picture Cards

Ideal for both older and remedial readers.
Contain handwriting models for the upper- and lower-case cursive letters with illustrations of words corresponding to the sound of each letter. (5½" x 8½")

Cursive Wall Strip

Includes upper- and lower-case cursive handwriting models. (15'2" x 6")

Preventing Academic Failure (PAF) Highlights

A comprehensive three-year program for teaching reading, writing and spelling in the primary grades using multisensory techniques.
Designed to prevent reading failure in children with learning disabilities when begun in kindergarten or first grade and can also be used as an effective beginning reading program for all children.
PAF is an Orton-Gillingham-based program that incorporates reading practices supported by scientific research.

Preventing Academic Failure (PAF) Program

A Multisensory Curriculum for Teaching Reading, Spelling, and Handwriting