Programs

877.485.1973 | 541.485.1973
Info@NIFDI.org

877.485.1973 | Info@NIFDI.org

What our partners say…

“I would use the word transformational to describe our relationship with NIFDI.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Robin Shakespeare, Director of Education - Midland Academies Trust, UK

“NIFDI support was exemplary. It was structured in such a way as the teachers did not feel overwhelmed.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Nazam Hussain, School Psychologist - Bradford, UK

“Our principals have all agreed that NIFDI support is the single most changing professional development experience they have experienced in their careers.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Sean McKenzie, Director of Support Services - Bethel School District - Spanaway, WA

“The support for me as an administrator–looking at the data, and making decisions was really valuable. I couldn’t have done it by myself.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Rhonda Richetta, Principal - City Springs Elementary/Middle School - Baltimore, MD

“The small, bite-size level of feedback has supported me in improving as a teacher.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Ann Fuentes, Assistant Principal of Instruction - Idea Mission Academy - Mission, TX

“NIFDI has been a game-changer in terms of building student confidence. They have fun with the program.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Selina Ortiz, Assistant Principal of Instruction - IDEA Edinburg Academy - Edinburg, TX

“Working with NIFDI means you are working with the acknowledged authority on Direct Instruction.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Robin Shakespeare, Director of Education -Midland Academies Trust, UKm

“The thoroughness and robustness of the training was amazing to see. It was rigorous and professional, but sensitive to the individual.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Nazam Hussain, School Psychologist - Bradford, UK

“Schools with NIFDI have more and better discussions about how what they are doing is impacting individual student achievement.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Sean McKenzie, Director of Support Services - Bethel School District - Spanaway, WA.

“The support was very targeted.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Rhonda Richetta, Principal - City Springs Elementary/Middle School - Baltimore, MD

“The schools like the support and they are seeing the results”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Nazam Hussain, School Psychologist - Bradford, UK

“The teachers have gained so much knowledge behind the data tracking. They love the assistance… end of week goals, end of month goals…”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Selina Ortiz, Assistant Principal of Instruction - IDEA Edinburg Academy - Edinburg, TX

“NIFDI Implementation Managers build relationships. She is here to help and support. It is a caring, comforting approach.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Ann Fuentes, Assistant Principal of Instruction - Idea Mission Academy - Mission, TX

"The most valuable tool for a teacher is a NIFDI coach… side by side, shoulder to shoulder, to model for you, show you and give you feedback.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Rhonda Richetta, Principal - City Springs Elementary/Middle School - Baltimore, MD

"The tools and procedures taught in training are applicable... When I enter a new program the teachers pick it up easily.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Selina Ortiz, Assistant Principal of Instruction - IDEA Edinburg Academy - Edinburg, TX

*Please note, we do not sell Spelling Through Morphographs materials. Click on the "Where to Purchase" button below to view purchasing options or click here to find your local DI representative.*

Spelling Through Morphographs is a one-year program designed to teach spelling to older students (4^th grade and older). Students learn that words are composed of morphographs, which roughly are prefixes, suffixes, and bases or roots. The program presents rules for combining the morphographs and provides extensive practice in applying these rules. The program uses specific strategies that encourage students to think their way through spelling rather than to memorize weekly word lists. These strategies, combined with repeated practice and application enable students to spell unfamiliar words and to remember familiar words more successfully than they would by using other methods.

Upon completion of the program, students will have learned 750 morphographs and be able to spell between 12,000 and 15,000 words including most words on the complete Dolch word list and words most commonly misspelled in high school an college. The program can be used with regular education students, and can also be used with students with disabilities or students with English as a second language. The more at-risk students will likely need additional practice.

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*Please note, we do not sell Spelling Mastery materials. Click on the "Where to Purchase" button below to view purchasing options or click here to find your local DI representative.*

Spelling Mastery is a six-level Direct Instruction series that teaches students dependable spelling skills by blending three approaches: the phonemic approach, the whole word approach and the morphemic approach. Each approach has advantages and possible disadvantages. Spelling Mastery is designed to maximize the advantages of each approach and minimize the disadvantages.

The whole word approach focuses on memorization. Spelling Mastery does not use memorization for words that contain predictable phonemic elements, but reserves memorization for words that have irregular letter-sound relationships (i.e feud, break, gone). Prompts are used to make the initial learning easier and systematic practice is provided to facilitate retention.

The phonemic approach is used for letter-sound correspondences that are predicable. For example, the sound /ar/ is highly consistent. In about 95 percent of the words in which the sound /ar/ is said, the sound is spelled with the letters a-r. A careful analysis of phoneme-grapheme relationships was made by the authors and the generalizable relationships are systematically introduced and practiced.

The morphemic approach is used for combing the roots, bases, prefixes and suffixes into words. The morphemic approach used is highly similar to that used in Spelling Though Morphographs. Students combine morphographs to write words and do exercises in which they indicate the morphographs in words. The use of morphographs to figure out the meaning of words gradually increases as students progress through the levels.

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There are remedial and developmental Direct Instruction Spelling programs. Each of these programs is based on the morphographic analysis of words. A morpheme is the smallest unit of meaning in langauge. By learning simple rules for combining morphemes students can not only correctly spell accurately, but also understand the word meaning.

Spelling through Morphographs is generally used in a remedial setting in grades 4-adult basic education. The Spelling Mastery Series is a 6 level developmental program that usually begins in grade 1 and concludes in grade 6.

*Please note, we do not sell Essentials materials. Click on the "Where to Purchase" button below to view purchasing options or click here to find your local DI representative.*

Essentials for Algebra is designed for students in middle school or high school who are at risk of failing to meet graduation requirements in math. The program teaches pre-algebra and introduces Algebra I content. The program focuses on providing a solid foundation for a traditional Algebra I course and other topics presented in math exams. Students learn about exponents, rate equations, signed-number multiplication, geometry, function tables, fractions, story problems and other topics. Essentials for Algebra enables students to translate a wide range of problem types into algebraic equations.

The program is comprised of 118 lessons with 11 in-program preparation tests. The first 15 lessons of the program teach and review basic math skills, including:

Short Division
Rounding Decimals
Decimal Operations
Fraction Operations
Fraction Decimal & Percent Equivalences
Geometry

Lessons are designed for presentation to an entire class. Approximately 60 minutes of instructional time per lesson should be dedicated at the middle school level with an additional 45 minutes - 1 hour of independent work (homework). High school students receiving the program as an intervention require 90 minutes of instructional time plus an additional 10-20 minutes for independent work/homework.

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Implementing Direct Instruction Successfully

When implemented fully, Direct Instruction (DI) is unparalleled in its ability to improve student performance and enhance students’ self-esteem. In order to implement DI effectively, much more is required than simply purchasing instructional materials. The following two-part tutorial guides administrators, teachers, and coaches through the key features of a successful DI implementation. Part I provides an overview of the steps schools need to take in preparation for a DI implementation before school starts, while Part II provides an overview of the steps schools need to take after school has started.

IMPORTANT: This tutorial is an intensive video series comprised of 18 segments, each followed by a series of questions. Users should allow approximately three hours to watch the videos and complete the questions. NIFDI recognizes the high demand for time placed on school officials and, for this reason, has structured the tutorial so users may stop at any time and later resume where they left off.

Enroll in the tutorial here.