Case Study

Discrete Trial: Letter-Sound identification

 Objectives
• COACH Objective: When given a letter, Sara
can independently identify the correct letter-
sound with 100% accuracy over three
consecutive trials.

• Connected to core: Reading: Foundational

Skills Standard 2: Demonstrate understanding
of spoken words, syllables, and sounds
(phonemes).
 Discrete Skill: Letter-
Sound ID
• Program Steps
• Unknown letter sound.
• Unknown letter sound with distractor (blank card with
scribble).
• Unknown letter sound plus 5 known letter-sounds (Sara has to
pass off letter-sound and known letter sounds three times
each independently with 100% accuracy before moving on to a
new unknown letter sound).
• Review the unknown letter-sound and known letter sounds
used.
• Repeat for each unknown letter-sound.
Letter-Sound ID cards
Penny Chart
Reinforcement
Baseline + Data
Collection
 Criteria For Moving to
Next Step
• Sara passes off a letter when she can
independently identify the correct letter-sound
with the letter, with 100% accuracy over 3
consecutive trials.
 Program Critique
• this discrete trial training increased Sara’s motivation and
learning.
• It really worked for her that each trial was short, and Sara
knew that there was a clear beginning and end to each trial
• Clear understanding of penny chart system and expectations.
• In my own self-reflection one thing I need to work on when
implanting instructional programs is not “hinting” at the right
answer. I caught myself a few times during this instructional
program slightly pointed at which letter-sound Sara was
identifying and needed to hand me during the distractor phase
and known letter-sound phase. This can be detrimental
because students can pick up on that and begin to rely on that
and expect you to “show” them the answer.
 What now?
• The teacher will continue to implement
discrete trial training with letter-sounds until
Sara is proficient in each letter-sound
independently with 100% accuracy.