School of Communication Science Disorders (SCSD) Professors Carla Wood and Sana Tibi and post-doctoral researcher

Michelle Torres-Chavarro, with Chris Schatschneider (FSU Psychology) and Fengfend Ke (FSU Scientific Computing, authored The Morphological Analysis Pathway to Reading (MAP-R) project. One year into the pilot-study, the project has already found great success in Florida schools and been accepted for publication in the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology.

“By leveraging technology and inclusive strategies, MAP-R continues to bridge the achievement gaps and reduce the burden on teachers for individualizing support for students who stand to benefit the most,” said Dr. Carla Wood.

MAP-R is a five-year project funded by a $2.5 million Stepping Up Technology Research Grant through the Office of Special Education Programs. The study is designed to enhance vocabulary instruction, particularly for multilingual learners and students with language-related disabilities through interactive, computer-delivered supplemental instruction.

Results from the first-year pilot study demonstrated significant gains in students’ morphological knowledge within just six weeks of intervention. These findings were accepted for publication in the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, titled “Computer-Delivered Morphology-Focused Vocabulary Instruction: A Pilot Study.”

With this success, MAP-R is undergoing substantial expansion. The program currently reaches over 600 students in 33 classrooms across eight schools in four school districts in Florida—more than double the number from its first year.

Looking ahead, the next phase of the study will focus on further refining of instructional materials and developing resources for parents.