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A research-based, standards-aligned early literacy curriculum with systematic phonics and differentiated reading instruction for inclusive classrooms, enhanced by play-based learning and robust educator support.

ReadtopiaGO Early Literacy Curriculum for PreK-3 Learners with Complex Needs

ReadtopiaGO is a comprehensive early literacy curriculum designed for PreK through grade 3 learners, including emergent readers, AAC users, and student with significant learning needs. Grounded in the science of reading and structured literacy practices, ReadtopiaGO helps educators deliver engaging, differentiated reading and writing instruction that builds foundational literacy skills while honoring diverse ways of learning and communicating.

 

Designed for inclusive and special education settings, ReadtopiaGO provides pathways to literacy through:

  • systematic and explicit instruction

  • differentiated supports and scaffolds

  • engaging, age-respectful learning materials

  • communication supports for AAC users

  • integrated reading and writing instruction

  • ready-to-use lessons and educator guidance

 

ReadtopiaGO helps young learners develop the skills, confidence, and access needed on the path toward conventional literacy success.

Who Is ReadtopiaGO Designed For?

  • PreK through grade 3 students

  • emergent readers

  • AAC users and nonspeaking learners

  • students with intellectual and developmental disabilities

  • learners with complex communication needs

  • inclusive and self-contained classrooms

  • early childhood special education programs

  • educators implementing science of reading practices

Research-Based and Standards-Aligned

Rooted in the research of Comprehensive Literacy for All by Drs. Karen Erickson and David Koppenhaver, Readtopia and ReadtopiaGO, translate evidence-based literacy instruction into daily instructional routines for learners with complex needs. Download the official Comprehensive Literacy for All Book Study Guide to deepen your understanding and confidently implement these strategies in your classroom and with your team.

An Inclusive Early Literacy Library for PreK-3 Learners

ReadtopiaGO includes a comprehensive digital library designed to support emergent readers, AAC users, and young learners with diverse learning needs. With four-plus years of literacy lesson plans and hundreds of engaging books paired with differentiated text options, educators can provide accessible reading instruction that meets learners where they are while building foundational literacy skills.

 

Each custom-created book is intentionally designed to reflect diverse identities, inclusive classroom experiences, and meaningful storytelling so learners can see themselves as readers, communicators, thinkers, and achievers. Designed for inclusive classrooms, early childhood programs, and special education settings, the ReadtopiaGO library helps educators deliver engaging literacy instruction that builds confidence, communication, and early reading success.

High-Quality Instructional Materials and Comprehensive Teacher Support

ReadtopiaGO provides educators with high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) designed to support science of reading aligned literacy instruction for PreK-3 learners with complex learning needs. Built for inclusive classrooms, special educations settings, and early childhood programs, ReadtopiaGO combines explicit instructional routines, engaging literacy materials, and embedded educator supports to help schools deliver accessible, effective literacy instruction for all learners.

 

ReadtopiaGO includes tutorial videos and embedded professional learning resources that help educators confidently implement structured literacy practices across classrooms and interdisciplinary teams.

 

Designed for:

  • special education teachers

  • inclusive classroom educators

  • paraprofessionals

  • speech-language-pathologists

  • early childhood educators

  • schools implementing science of reading initiatives

 

ReadtopiaGO helps reduce implementation burden while building educator confidence and district-wide capacity for effective literacy instruction.

Play-Based Early Literacy Instruction for PreK-3 Learners

ReadtopiaGO combines literacy instruction with play-based learning experiences designed to keep young learners engaged, motivated, and actively participating in literacy development.

 

Through interactive literacy centers, hands-on activities, puppet-based storytelling, and engaging classroom routines, learners build foundational reading and writing skills in ways that feel meaningful, accessible, and developmentally appropriate.

 

Play-based literacy activities encourage learners to explore reading and writing through movement, interaction, creativity, and communication while supporting structured literacy instruction.

 

ReadtopiaGO also includes interactive puppet show videos and multimedia learning experiences that bring stories and literacy concepts to life, helping educators maintain engagement and create joyful, inclusive classrooms where all learners can participate.

 

Explicit, Systematic, and Science of Reading Aligned Literacy Instruction

ReadtopiaGO delivers explicit, systematic literacy instruction designed for PreK-3 learners with complex learning needs, including nonspeaking students, AAC users, emergent readers, and students with disabilities. Grounded in the science of reading and structured literacy practices, ReadtopiaGO helps educators provide accessible, data-driven literacy instruction that builds foundational reading, writing, language, and communication skills for all learners.

 

The curriculum includes:

  • systematic phonics and alphabet instruction

  • phonological awareness and early reading development

  • differentiated literacy supports and AAC integration

  • progress monitoring and literacy data tools

  • integrated reading and writing instruction

  • research-based instructional routines aligned to structured literacy practices

 

Designed for inclusive and special education settings, ReadtopiaGO combines high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) with practical implementation supports that help schools deliver meaningful literacy instruction for every learner.

Explore Samples from the ReadtopiaGO
Online Subscription Portal

Click on any of the areas below to explore samples and further details.

Incorporated Literacy Research

Systematic Phonics
Instruction

Teacher Guides & Tutorials

Progress Monitoring
Play-Based Learning
Thematic Instruction
Integrated Instructional Routines
Interactive Puppet Show Videos
Astronaut in space reaching upward with floating number tiles 1–10 and the title 'Learning Numbers' above, on a starry background (educational poster by Building Wings).

Integrated Math

Read What Educators Are Saying

ReadtopiaGO Pricing

Individual
Educator

$825 USD/year
(per educator)

Homeschool/Parents:
If you’d like to bring
ReadtopiaGO into your
home, call us at
847-238-8889
for a discounted license.

School District or Organization
5-50% Savings
Discounts are available for districts/facilities with multiple licenses or who select multi-year options.

Want to Explore More? Contact Us or view detailed information about a few of the themes and collections educators can choose from.

Morning Message Ideas for Preschool and Elementary Classrooms

Start the day with a positive classroom routine using morning message ideas that incorporate literacy learning.

Author Name: Building Wings

Categories: Articles, Reading Curriculum, ReadtopiaGO

Tags: ReadtopiaGo

Date: June 13, 2024

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The Benefits of Using Puppets in Early Childhood Classrooms

An early-childhood educator shares the moment she discovered the benefits of using puppets in early childhood classrooms

Author Name: Building Wings

Categories: Articles, ReadtopiaGO

Tags: ReadtopiaGo

Date: January 17, 2024

Read Blog

Webinar: ReadtopiaGO – The Best Yes!

An on-demand webinar with two special educators who share the process they used to select an early childhood literacy curriculum.

Author Name: cmaleski

Categories: On Demand Webinars, Reading Curriculum, ReadtopiaGO

Tags: ReadtopiaGo

Date: March 16, 2023

Watch Now

Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction

ReadtopiaGO is built on research from Dr. Karen Erickson and the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, along with the broader science of reading.

Research-based practices are embedded directly into daily lessons and instructional routines, making it easier for educators to deliver comprehensive, evidence-based literacy instruction with confidence. 

This approach ensures all students have access to meaningful reading, writing, and communication instruction aligned with current literacy research.

Explore the ReadtopiaGO White paper

Systematic Phonics Instruction with Decodable Books for All Learners

Build foundational reading skills with a structured, research-based phonics program designed for emergent, transitional, and diverse learners – including students who are nonspeaking or use AAC. Whether you’re teaching in whole group, small group, or individualized settings, this approach ensures every student has access to meaningful literacy instruction – no prior knowledge required.

Learning Letters

Foundational Phonics: Letter-Sound Awareness

Students begin by developing letter recognition and understanding the relationship between letters and sounds.

 

  • Builds phonemic awareness and letter-sound correspondence

  • Supports emergent readers and early communicators

  • Prepares students to engage with early decodable texts

Learning Letters Plus

Developing Phonics Skills: Blends, Digraphs, and Word Building

Students expand their phonics knowledge and begin decoding more complex patterns.

 

  • Introduces blends, digraphs, and high-frequency words

  • Strengthens word building and decoding skills

  • Includes decodable reading opportunities to build fluency and confidence.

Teacher Guides for Early Literacy Instruction in Special Education

Every ReadtopiaGO unit includes a comprehensive Teacher Guide designed to support job embedded early literacy and foundational reading skills for students in K-3 and early learners with diverse needs.

 

Teachers are provided with clear “say and do” instructional prompts, embedded supports, and ready-to-use resources that guide them through each lesson with confidence. Each unit follows a consistent instructional routine across multiple cycles, helping students build skills through repetition, engagement and meaningful practice.

 

Built-in Teaching Tutorial videos model each instructional routine step-by-step, making implmentation easy for:

  • New special education teachers

  • Substitute teachers

  • Paraprofessionals and instructional assistants

 

These supports ensure that every educator can deliver high-quality, evidence-based literacy instruction, regardless of experience level.

 

Progress Monitoring for Early Literacy and IEP Goals

ReadtopiaGO includes built-in formative and summative assessments designed to help educators track early literacy development and monitor progress toward IEP goals for students in PreK-3 and early learners with diverse needs. Teachers can easily collect and share meaningful data with families and IEP teams using tools that focus on observable communication, engagement, and foundational reading skills not just traditional test performance.

The Emergent Literacy Measures provide structured ways to assess key early literacy components, including:

  • Foundational reading behaviors

  • Early comprehension and response

  • Engagement with text and routines

  • Communication and interaction

With multiple assessment types embedded across instruction, educators can:

  • Monitor student growth over time

  • Differentiate instruction based on real data

  • Document progress for IEP reporting and team collaboration

This approach ensures that progress monitoring is authentic, actionable, and aligned to how early learners actually develop literacy skills

Play-Based Learning

Each of the 32 topics include suggestions for related Activity Centers to reinforce learning and offer repetition with variety. Instructions, supply lists and accessibility tips are included.

Thematic Instruction

Four years of literacy instructional lessons are included and are organized within themes and collections. Each year includes four collections and there are four themes within each collection. This offers learners and educators choice to match content with learner interest and calendar content.

Integrated Literacy Instructional Routines

ReadtopiaGO lessons for PreK through 3rd grade embed structured literacy routines into every day instruction, helping educators deliver comprehensive, research-based reading instruction with confidence.

Each lesson integrates essential practices such as shared reading, predictable chart writing, independent reading, and writing so students consistently build skills across contexts.

Designed for early elementary classrooms, these lessons support phonics, language development, and comprehension through daily, connected routines rather than isolated activities.

By engaging in these routines every day, PreK-3 learners develop stronger reading comprehension, communication, and writing skills while accessing meaningful, standards-align content across themes and collections.

How do ReadtopiaGO Puppet Shows Support Student Learning?

Each ReadtopiaGO theme for PreK through 3rd grade includes an interactive instructional video featuring engaging puppet characters that introduce key vocabulary and literacy concepts. These videos are designed to increase student engagement and participation while supporting language development, comprehension, and communication skills.

Integrated Math

Educational counting page showing the numeral 4 and four colorful socks (red, yellow, navy, green) for a counting activity, with on-screen instructions on the right.

Early math is often assumed, not taught—leaving many learners without the basics they need. Learning Numbers in ReadtopiaGO starts at the beginning, building real understanding through playful, interactive routines.

Learners focus on one number at a time, engage in hands-on activities, and build confidence with counting, quantity, and number forms.

Educators get simple, ready-to-use 15-minute routines, flexible supports for all learners, and an easier way to fit meaningful math into the day.

Designed for students with complex needs, Learning Numbers builds confidence, independence, and true mathematical understanding.

Karen A. Erickson, Ph.D.​

Karen A. Erickson, Ph.D. is Director of the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies at University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill. Her focus is on understanding the best ways to assess and teach reading and writing to children with the most severe disabilities. As a special education teacher, Dr. Erickson has worked to support students with a range of disabilities in a variety of classroom settings, particularly students who do not use speech as their primary means of communication.

Website: https://www.med.unc.edu/ahs/clds

Author Profile: https://products.brookespublishing.com/cw_Contributorinfo.aspx?ContribID=110&Name=Karen+Erickson,Ph.D.

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