At The Mill School, we believe that effective reading intervention should be systematic, explicit, and responsive to each student’s needs. Strong literacy instruction reinforces foundational skills such as phonemic awareness, decoding, spelling, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension while also helping students build confidence and independence as readers. Research shows that struggling readers benefit most from structured, sequential instruction that builds skills step-by-step and provides frequent opportunities for practice and feedback. 

Our reading intervention program provides Tier 2 and Tier 3 support through small group and individual pull-out sessions. Each student receives individualized goals and instructional plans based on their specific learning profile. Instruction draws on evidence-based approaches grounded in the Science of Reading, including structured literacy programs such as UFLI Foundations, alongside teacher-designed activities that reinforce phonics, spelling, fluency, and comprehension skills. 

Our literacy interventionists work collaboratively with classroom teachers and clinicians to ensure that literacy support aligns with students’ broader academic and therapeutic goals. Beginning next year, The Mill School will be expanding our literacy support system to include a schoolwide foundational literacy screening at the start of the year. This screening will assess key elements of skilled reading—including phonological awareness, decoding, fluency, language comprehension, and vocabulary—to help identify areas where students may benefit from additional support. 

Students receiving intervention will have three clearly defined progress-monitoring targets that are tracked throughout the year. These data points allow teachers to adjust instruction and ensure students are making meaningful progress. At the end of the year, intervention plans will be reviewed and evaluated, allowing our team to celebrate growth, refine supports, and plan next steps for continued literacy development. 

Our goal is to ensure that every student at The Mill School receives the targeted instruction and support they need to become a confident, capable reader.