The Power of Print

The Power of Print

What Is the Power of Print?

The Power of Print celebrates the research-proven practices of leading instruction with a printed text or workbook and teacher guidance. Printed materials are a powerful tool, reducing distractions while promoting focus and deeper engagement with essential skills. The tactile and visual nature of print supports comprehension, reinforces skill development, and enables meaningful, structured practice—critical for accelerating progress and addressing skill gaps.

3 students discussing notes

What Are the Benefits of Print-Based Instruction?

A growing body of research and classroom experience points to a powerful truth: Print-based, teacher-guided instruction remains one of the most effective ways to support deep learning, strong comprehension, and lasting academic growth. Here are some key benefits of print-based instruction:

Deeper Comprehension and Retention
Reading from print has been consistently linked to improved comprehension and retention compared to digital formats. Students are more likely to slow down, process information carefully, and build a stronger mental map of the content when engaging with physical text.
Focus Without Distractions
Print materials create a distraction-free environment that helps students stay engaged with content. Without pop-ups, notifications, or multitasking tabs, learners can focus fully on reading, writing, and thinking.
Active, Hands-On Learning
Print materials naturally support annotation, note-taking, and other tactile learning strategies. Students can highlight key ideas, write in margins, and physically interact with content—helping them process and retain information.
The Power of the Teacher
Teacher-guided instruction creates meaningful opportunities for interaction, discussion, and feedback. It allows educators to adapt in real time—responding to student needs, checking for understanding, and fostering classroom dialogue.
Supports Equity and Accessibility
Print-based instruction ensures consistent access to learning materials—regardless of device availability, internet connectivity, or digital literacy levels. The result: A more inclusive and equitable learning environment.

Print and Digital Learning Work Together

Dr. Louisa Moats
Dr. Louisa Moats
View Bio  
“The most effective instructional model uses both print and technology. The question is: Which one to use and when?”

“The most effective instructional model uses both print and technology. The question is: Which one to use and when?”

– Dr. Louisa Moats

Teacher in front of classroom with hands raised

Print-based, teacher-guided instruction remains essential for deep, meaningful learning. Teacher guidance keeps students engaged by providing structure and direction—ensuring students stay on task and fully absorb what they’re learning. Digital learning tools should pair with print-based instruction to extend or reinforce what students are learning. Technology is especially powerful when used to streamline practice and assessment. Together, they create a structured, engaging, and effective educational experience that helps every student thrive.

Because when students focus deeply, engage actively, and learn with expert guidance—real learning happens and student confidence shines.

How Can I Learn More?

Dr. Louisa Moats
Dr. Louisa Moats

The Power of Print: Inspiring Classroom Discussion and Motivation

An inspiring conversation with Dr. Louisa Moats, author of LETRS® professional learning and LANGUAGE! Live® reading intervention, as we talk candidly about the power of printed books and materials and how educators can best select and use them to encourage student motivation and engagement—while helping all students build essential reading skills.

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Dr. Jan Hasbrouck
Dr. Jan Hasbrouck

We Know HOW to Teach Children to Read: Let's DO It!

Too many students in our classrooms struggle with learning to read. This does not need to occur. Research has shown that approximately 95% of all students can be taught to read at grade level, including those with learning disabilities and dyslexia. How can we meet the needs of every student in today’s classrooms?

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Dr. Louisa Moats
Dr. Louisa Moats

Building Blocks of Reading: Understanding Concepts of Print

Setting clear goals and objectives is critical in any educational setting, especially when it comes to early literacy instruction. One of the most important goals is the development of strong concepts of print.

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The Power of Print Badge

Power of Print Badge

As you explore, watch for the Power of Print badge. This badge signifies the program delivers instruction primarily through teacher-guided, print-based materials—supporting explicit, systematic instruction in foundational reading, writing, and math skills. 

With teacher-led print instruction at the core, educators can deliver clear, consistent routines, provide immediate, targeted feedback, and differentiate support to meet the unique needs of every learner. This approach ensures equitable access to evidence-based intervention—helping educators change the trajectory of student outcomes and empower every learner to succeed in school, career, and life.

Voyager Sopris Learning Print-First Solutions

These Voyager Sopris Learning programs deliver instruction primarily through teacher-led, print materials.

Print-Only Programs

 
Reading
Power Readers

Decodable Stories
for Beginning Readers
Grades (K–4)

 
Reading
Supercharged Readers

Decodable and Controlled
Text Chapter Books
Grades (1–4)

 
Reading
Sound Partners

Build Early Reading Skills With Explicit Instruction
Grades (K–3)

 
Reading
LINKS to Literacy

Flexible Science of
Reading Intervention
Grades (K–5)

Print Program With Online Resources for Teachers

 
Reading
REWARDS

Explicit, Short-Term
Reading Intervention
Grades (4–12)

 
Writing
Step Up to Writing

Research-Based
Writing Instruction
Grades (K–12)

Blended or Technology-Enhanced for Teachers and Students

 
Reading
Voyager Passport

Research-Based
Reading Intervention
Grades (K–5)

 
Reading
LANGUAGE! Live

Intensive Literacy Intervention
for Adolescents
Grades (5–12)

 
Math
Vmath

Research-Based
Math Intervention
Grades (2–8)

 
Math
TransMath

Targeted, Multisensory
Math Intervention
Grades (5–10)

Ready to dive into the science of reading with aligned intervention solutions?

Backed by decades of literary research, our intervention and assessment products are all built and based on the science of reading. Explore our evidence-based solutions to intervene and provide essential diagnostic instruction for K–12 students who struggle with reading and literacy.

Informed Instruction With Assessment

Informed Instruction With Assessment

The Importance of Assessment

Assessment is a critical component of instruction because it provides educators with the clear, actionable insights they need to support every learner’s path toward mastery. By offering reliable data that guides instructional decisions, assessment empowers teachers to deliver the right support at the right time—ultimately helping students build the literacy and math skills essential for success in school, career, and life.

Students raising hands in classroom

Types of Assessments

Educators rely on a range of assessment types to gain a complete picture of student learning and guide effective instruction. Together, these assessment types create a purposeful, connected system, ensuring every student stays on a path toward success.

Universal screeners, or screening assessments, offer a quick, reliable way to identify which students may need additional support at the beginning of the year or at key checkpoints.

Progress-monitoring assessments provide frequent checks into how students are responding to instruction, helping teachers adjust lessons and pacing with confidence.

Diagnostic assessments take a deeper look at specific skill gaps so educators can target instruction precisely where it’s most needed.

Formative assessments, embedded within daily instruction, give teachers real-time data that informs immediate next steps.

Summative assessments measure mastery of key skills at the end of a unit or year.

How Assessment Powers Learning Across Our Solutions

Voyager Sopris Learning® embeds a full range of assessment types across its intervention solutions to give educators the meaningful data they need to guide effective, responsive instruction. Designed to integrate seamlessly within Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) or Response to Intervention (RtI) frameworks, our programs work alongside widely used screeners and benchmark tools. These solutions provide educators with valuable insights so they can deliver the right instruction to build a strong foundation for long‑term academic success.

Voyager Passport

Grades (K–5)

Voyager Passport® includes ongoing formative assessments that help teachers monitor mastery of key literacy skills. Teachers can use differentiated instruction lessons and built‑in extension activities to individualize instruction. Each lesson also includes embedded supports and correction procedures that offer immediate feedback and address misconceptions in real time.

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LANGUAGE! Live

Grades (5–12)

LANGUAGE! Live® includes reliable, research-based assessments that support instructional planning, strategic grouping, differentiated teaching, and ongoing progress monitoring. Its comprehensive assessment suite—including benchmark, formative, end-of-unit, and baseline/summative measures—helps educators determine placement, track growth, and evaluate mastery in comprehension, fluency, and spelling. These insights enable teachers to refine instruction, monitor pacing, and ensure students build the skills they need to succeed.

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REWARDS

Grades (4–12)

Assessments in REWARDS® give educators powerful insight into students’ decoding and fluency growth, helping them pinpoint exactly where support is needed. With easy-to-administer tools and clear, actionable data, REWARDS assessments make it simple to monitor progress and guide instruction. The result is a more confident, capable group of readers who accelerate quickly toward grade-level success.

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Step Up to Writing

Grades (K–12)

Step Up to Writing® incorporates both formal and informal assessments. The assessments help teachers determine areas in which students are exhibiting growth and areas that would benefit from additional support. The strategies and assessment materials can be used flexibly to comply with state, district, or school requirements and help prepare students for high-stakes writing assessments.

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TransMath

Grades (5–10)

TransMath® incorporates frequent assessment opportunities—including skill checks, lesson‑embedded tasks, and unit performance activities—that measure students’ understanding of rational numbers, expressions, equations, and essential problem‑solving skills. These assessment touchpoints help teachers identify misconceptions early and adjust pacing or provide additional modeling and practice, ensuring students build a solid pathway to algebra.

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Vmath

Grades (2–8)

Vmath® offers a robust, data-driven assessment system that identifies student strengths, pinpoints skill gaps, and guides targeted instruction. Initial assessments establish clear entry points, while ongoing progress monitoring tracks growth and informs timely support. With online access to results, teachers can easily adjust instruction, plan interventions, and document students’ response to intervention.

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Teacher helping student at desk

Incorporating Measures from MetaMetrics®

Many Voyager Sopris Learning solutions integrate with third-party norm-referenced assessments. LANGUAGE! Live incorporates assessments that measure the Lexile® Framework for Reading. TransMath and Vmath offer assessments that measure the Quantile® Framework for Mathematics. This integration supports Voyager Sopris Learning’s broader mission of delivering data‑informed intervention and helps educators personalize instruction using universally understood metrics.

Improved Outcomes for All Students

Thoughtful assessment helps teachers identify each student’s strengths and areas of need, enabling flexible, targeted instruction that ensures progress for students of all abilities. Grounded in evidence-based practices and a commitment to meaningful results, effective assessment fuels confident teaching and stronger, more sustainable learning outcomes for all students.

Teacher in front of classroom pointing at digital presentation

More on Assessment

Dr. Stephanie Stollar
Dr. Stephanie Stollar
Sharon Dunn M.Ed.
Sharon Dunn M.Ed.

Universal Screening: Why Newer or Shinier May Not Necessarily Be Better

Improving reading outcomes for all students is not just a goal, it is a civil right and moral imperative for educators across the country.

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Dr. Barbara Foorman
Dr. Barbara Foorman

What Happened to Using Data to Inform Instruction and Intervention in Grades K–2?

Join us for this informative and applicable presentation during which our presenter, renown researcher and literacy expert Dr. Barbara Foorman, will share the facts, research, and strategies surrounding using data to inform classroom instruction and guide intervention.

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Dr. Susan Smartt
Dr. Susan Smartt

Determining the Right Literacy Intervention: Using Assessment to Guide your Course

What happens after a formative literacy assessment? How can educators translate the results into targeted interventions and improved reading outcomes?

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Dr. Jason DeHart
Dr. Jason DeHart

Ensuring Success for Middle-Grade Readers: Strategies To Apply Now

It is sometimes hastily assumed that older students arrive in middle school with the skills they need to meet the demands of their classes. Adolescents certainly have much in their favor—they have lived a little longer, are often beginning to accumulate cultural knowledge, and are developing a keener sense of self.

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Ready to dive into the science of reading with aligned intervention solutions?

Backed by decades of literary research, our intervention and assessment products are all built and based on the science of reading. Explore our evidence-based solutions to intervene and provide essential diagnostic instruction for K–12 students who struggle with reading and literacy.

 
Voyager Sopris Learning
Empowering Maryland’s Nonpublic Schools: A Guide to the FY 2026 Textbook Grant
In the ever-evolving landscape of education, providing students with the high-quality resources they need to succeed is a top priority for every school administrator. For educators at nonpublic schools in Maryland, a significant opportunity has arrived.
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Voyager Sopris Learning
The 2026 North Carolina Primary Literacy Blueprint: From Training to Mastery
In 2021, North Carolina’s Excellent Public Schools Act set the wheels in motion for elevating explicit, evidence-based instruction and advancing student literacy gains statewide.
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Voyager Sopris Learning
Literacy Intervention for Students: Evidence-Based Solutions That Drive Reading Success
Literacy is the foundation for academic achievement, lifelong learning, and opportunity. Yet many students struggle to develop essential reading and writing skills—often due to gaps in phonics, fluency, vocabulary, or comprehension. Literacy intervention provides targeted, research-based instruction to close those gaps and help every learner reach proficiency. In this article, we’ll explore why literacy intervention matters, what effective intervention looks like, and how Voyager Sopris Learning delivers proven solutions for students from early elementary through secondary grades.
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Adolescent Learning

Adolescent Learning

Adolescent Learning

Adolescence is a time of rapid growth in students, especially physically, emotionally, and intellectually. Students in middle and high school are developing independence, forming identities, and preparing for college and careers. These changes also bring unique challenges to learning. Gaps in reading, writing, and math can grow, impacting confidence and long-term success.

Our intervention solutions are designed specifically for adolescents to increase student success.

Adolescents Are Unique

 

Adolescents require targeted, evidence-based strategies that close skill gaps in reading, writing, and math, build confidence and motivation, and prepare them for college readiness and career success.

Unlike younger learners, adolescents are navigating:

  • Higher cognitive demands: Abstract thinking and problem-solving become central
  • Social pressures: Peer influence and self-image can impact motivation
  • Time constraints: Busy schedules with extracurriculars and responsibilities
  • Emotional changes: Stress and anxiety often increase during these years

These factors can make academic struggles feel overwhelming—and without intervention, gaps can widen.

Adolescent Learning

 

Challenges They Face

 

 

 

reading

 

Reading: Adolescents need strong comprehension and critical thinking skills to tackle complex texts in subjects like science, history, and literature.


Challenges: Vocabulary gaps, difficulty analyzing themes, low engagement


Effective Strategies:

  • Guided Reading Groups with targeted comprehension questions
  • Annotation Techniques to improve critical thinking
  • Digital Literacy Tools for interactive reading experiences
  • Explicit Vocabulary Instruction to strengthen academic language

Learn More About Reading Interventions

 

 

 

 

 

Math: Advanced concepts demand fluency in foundational skills and logical reasoning. Math confidence often dips in middle and high school as concepts become abstract.


Challenges: Weak foundational skills, anxiety, difficulty applying concepts


Effective Strategies:

  • Diagnostic Assessments to identify gaps
  • Hands-On Activities connecting math to real-world scenarios
  • Step-by-Step Problem-Solving with visual aids
  • Integrated Technology for fluency practice

Explore Math Intervention Programs

 

 

 

 

writing

 

Writing: Strong writing skills are essential for essays, research papers, and college readiness. Writing calls for organization, clarity, and analytical depth. 

Challenges: Organization issues, unclear thesis statements, grammar struggles


Effective Strategies:

  • Structured Writing Workshops focusing on planning and drafting
  • Peer Review Sessionsto build confidence and collaboration
  • Sentence-Combining Exercises for clarity and style
  • Rubric-Based Feedback to guide improvement

Get Writing Support Today

 

Adolescent Learning

 

Creating Confident, Lifelong Learners

Effective interventions do more than improve grades. Students become more confident, resilient, and are provided with lifelong skills when interventions have a targeted approach. Our approach incorporates elements that make our interventions impactful, like:

  • Explicit, Systematic Instruction: Step-by-step methods that break down skills into manageable parts for clarity and mastery
  • Structured Lessons With Scaffolded Supports: Clear, sequenced instruction that gradually releases responsibility to students
  • Evidence-Based Strategies proven to boost comprehension, problem-solving, and clarity
  • Skill-Focused: Reinforce foundational skills while introducing advanced strategies
  • Engaging and Interactive: Encourage discussion, collaboration, and real-world application to make content relevant and enjoyable
  • Technology-Enhanced: Digital tools make learning engaging and accessible
  • Consistent and Supportive: Regular feedback and encouragement sustain progress

 

 
Dr. Patricia Vadasy
Inside Phonics: Design Details and Teaching Strategies
Thursday, November 07, 2024
The 2000 National Reading Panel (NRP) subpanel report about phonics instruction received a great deal of attention, for at least one important reason.
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Therese Pickett
Writing and the Science of Reading
Thursday, November 21, 2024
For years, much time and effort has been spent by district and state leaders across the country to help educators understand the science of reading to improve educational outcomes for students.
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Susan Ebbers
Susan Ebbers
Literacy Expert and Author of Power Readers and Supercharged Readers
View Bio

Building Reading Skills in Grades 1–4: Strategic Reading Practice

When it comes to helping students learn to read even better, it takes a seasoned expert to provide insight and guidance on what really works. Susan Ebbers is that expert: she knows what it takes to help all students—struggling or not—become even better at reading, and this presentation will showcase her proven strategies and approaches.

Ebbers will focus on how to support emerging and advancing readers through various aspects of word structure, including phonetically regular words, irregular words, syllable and morpheme analysis.

Attendees will learn:

  • How to achieve a reading progression from simple texts with basic words to more advanced and academic texts containing morphologically complex words with multiple syllables
  • The importance of using a blend of narratives, riddles, poems, and informational texts for this age group
  • How to use pre- and post-reading activities to boost literacy
  • Methods for motivating struggling readers with decodable books designed for success
  • And much more!

We hope you’ll join us.

 

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Amie Burkholder
Amie Burkholder
Literacy Edventures
View Bio

The Phonics Road Map

Join us for this fascinating and applicable presentation! Literacy expert and educator Amie Burkholder (@literacyedventures) will share what the research says about phonics instruction and five approaches to teaching it that you can implement it in practical ways within your own classrooms. 

Phonics (and phonemic awareness) is the road to fluency and comprehension. Creating explicit and systematic instruction in this area is critical for all students to succeed and become fluent readers and writers. 

Participants will walk away with a solid foundation of how to execute an explicit lesson and a tool kit of resources to get them started. All registrants who attend the live webinar will receive a free resource.

We hope you’ll join us!

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