Barton vs. Wilson: Which Reading Program is Best?

The Foundation: Orton-Gillingham and Structured Literacy

Before comparing Barton and Wilson, it’s essential to understand their shared foundation. Both programs are based on the Orton-Gillingham (O-G) approach, a cornerstone of "Structured Literacy." This isn’t a specific curriculum but a set of teaching principles developed specifically for struggling readers. The O-G approach is renowned for being explicit, systematic, and multisensory.

• Explicit instruction means that concepts are taught directly and clearly, leaving nothing for the student to guess or infer.
• Systematic and cumulative learning ensures that skills are taught in a logical order, with each new concept building on previously mastered ones to prevent gaps in learning.
• Multisensory techniques engage sight, sound, and touch to forge stronger neural pathways for learning, which is critical for the dyslexic brain. Techniques like tapping out sounds, tracing letters, or using color-coded tiles help make abstract language concepts concrete. Both Barton and Wilson are essentially different delivery systems for these same proven principles.

Deep Dive: The Barton Reading & Spelling System

The Barton Reading & Spelling System is a prominent intervention designed with accessibility at its core. Created by Susan Barton, it's a one-on-one tutoring system intended to make the powerful O-G approach available to parents, homeschoolers, and volunteer tutors without formal teaching credentials.

Philosophy and Target Audience

Barton’s philosophy centers on empowering motivated individuals to deliver high-quality instruction at home. It’s designed for children ages 5+, teenagers, and adults who struggle with reading and spelling due to dyslexia. This makes it a popular choice for families seeking a hands-on role in their child’s education or those who may not have access to expensive specialists.

Program Structure and Content

The curriculum is divided into 10 sequential levels, each sold as a self-contained kit. The program strongly advises that all students begin at Level 1 to build a solid foundation in phonemic awareness—the ability to hear and manipulate individual sounds in words. Each level is a prerequisite for the next, ensuring no gaps in learning as students progress from basic sounds to advanced concepts like Greek and Latin roots. Upon completion, a student is expected to be reading at a mid-ninth-grade level. Depending on the severity of dyslexia and frequency of tutoring, the Barton program can take anywhere from 2-5 years.

The Tutor Experience

Tutors learn the system by watching training videos where Susan Barton demonstrates each lesson with a student. The instructor manuals are fully scripted, providing word-for-word instructions that lower the barrier for non-professional tutors. This model demands a significant commitment to intensive one-on-one tutoring sessions, typically requiring at least two one-hour lessons per week. While the scripted manuals are designed to minimize daily prep time, the initial training for the instructor is a considerable investment. For each of the 10 levels, the tutor must watch training videos to learn how to deliver the lessons correctly.

While thorough, parents have observed that with no color, no pictures, and somewhat dry content, Barton can be less engaging for younger students. This, however, is a positive for adult students, who are less likely to view the program as childish.

While this traditional, tutor-led model has helped countless families, the commitment to one-on-one sessions can be demanding. In today’s digital world, many are exploring how modern, app-based reading programs can offer greater flexibility and engagement, adapting the same core principles into a more accessible format.

Deep Dive: The Wilson Reading System® (WRS)

The Wilson Reading System® (WRS) is one of the most established Structured Literacy programs, particularly within school districts. It is positioned as a Tier 3 intensive intervention for students with the most significant reading and spelling deficits.

Philosophy and Target Audience

Wilson prioritizes clinical fidelity and standardization. Its entire model is built around ensuring the program is delivered by highly trained professionals to achieve consistent, measurable results. The target audience is students from second grade through adulthood who have a language-based learning disability like dyslexia.

Program Structure and Content

The WRS curriculum is organized into 12 Steps that systematically teach the structure of the English language. The program delves deeply into phonology (sounds), morphology (word parts like prefixes and roots), and orthography (spelling rules). A hallmark of the Wilson method is its explicit teaching of the six types of syllables, giving students a reliable strategy for decoding long, complex words.

The Instructor Experience

The most significant differentiator for Wilson is its mandatory instructor certification. A teacher must complete a rigorous training process, including a supervised practicum, to become a Wilson® Dyslexia Practitioner (W.D.P.). This ensures the program is delivered with a high degree of fidelity, which in turn facilitates the formal research that school districts require.

The high cost of materials and certification, combined with the need to find a trained specialist, makes Wilson less accessible for the average family. This has led many to seek out newer, technology-driven reading programs that provide structured, Orton-Gillingham-based instruction without the logistical hurdles of traditional clinical models.

Barton vs. Wilson: A Head-to-Head Comparison

The choice between Barton and Wilson is not about which program is "better," but which is the better fit for your specific situation. The core difference lies in their approach: Barton prioritizes accessibility for parents, while Wilson prioritizes clinical fidelity for schools.

Making the Right Choice

Your decision will likely come down to three key questions: who will teach, what is your budget, and what evidence do you need?

• If you are a parent or guardian ready to take on the role of instructor, Barton is explicitly designed for you. Its training and scripted manuals empower you to begin tutoring almost immediately.
• Wilson's barrier to entry is much higher, considering the lack of scripted lessons, and high cost of materials.
• Financially, Barton offers more flexibility with its per-level purchasing model. Wilson represents a much larger upfront investment in materials and certified instruction.
• For school administrators who must justify spending based on formal research, Wilson's positive rating from the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) provides a level of validation that Barton currently lacks.

Ultimately, both programs demand a significant commitment of time and resources to be effective. As technology evolves, solutions like Reading Mountain, which adapts the proven principles of Orton-Gillingham into engaging, app-based platforms, offers a flexible, cost-effective way to provide systematic reading instruction that fits a busy lifestyle.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)