Slingerland Literacy Institute Announces Assets School as a New Strategic Partner
Updated: 1 day ago
Assets School is committed to using the Slingerland® Approach in all literacy instruction grades K-8
BELLEVUE, WA - October 20, 2026 - Slingerland® Literacy Institute announces Assets School in Honolulu, HI as an official Strategic Partner for demonstrating a strong commitment to the Slingerland Approach for all reading and writing instruction for students in grades K-8.
Assets School serves gifted and capable students, specializing in those with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences. Since 1985 the school has trained teachers in the Slingerland Approach, a multisensory instructional approach to teaching literacy skills that builds upon the strengths of the students.
This fall Assets School is recognized as a Strategic Partner to celebrate how the Slingerland Approach has been central to student instruction and teachers’ professional development, as well as a continued commitment to train more teachers in the Slingerland Approach.
“As the only school in Hawaii (and largely the Asia-Pacific region) who specializes in language-based learning differences, we want to do everything we can to implement Slingerland because we observe that this evidence-based and student-centered instruction supports each child’s journey,” said Assets Head of School Ryan Masa.
“With most of our K-8 faculty trained in the Approach, we share a strong common foundation for literacy instruction, and students experience Slingerland principles with greater consistency from classroom to classroom and grade to grade.”
“We see value in joining a network of like-minded educators who can share resources, feedback, and insights with each other,” Masa added. “We also value the strategic benefit of the reputational strength that Slingerland and Assets provides each other as we grow our respective programs.”
All K-8 teachers at Assets School are required to complete the Introductory Comprehensive course, and some go further through Extended Practicums to earn the status of Slingerland Certified Teacher.
“Strategic Partner Schools have trained their teachers in our whole classroom approach so every student is learning and doing everything all of the time. Classes are engaging, full of energy and activity, and students build on their success,” said Slingerland Literacy Institute Executive Director Seth Watkins.
The Slingerland Approach
The Slingerland Approach is a structured way of teaching reading, writing, and spelling that supports learners of all ages. The whole-class Approach is designed to help students progressively build skills while gaining confidence and a positive attitude toward learning. For students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences, this structured approach to build literacy skills is especially effective, and students don’t have to leave the classroom to get targeted instruction.
Becoming a Strategic Partner
Assets School demonstrated that it is fully engaged with the most effective, available classroom literacy program — the Slingerland Approach. Assets has proved the Slingerland Approach is used consistently, in the complete format, and that all teachers who provide Slingerland instruction to students have satisfactorily completed no less than the Slingerland Approach (Introductory) Comprehensive Teacher Training class.
The school has also committed to offering onsite Slingerland Approach Comprehensive Teacher Training classes at least every year.
This summer, Assets School hosted a Slingerland Introductory Comprehensive Teacher Training class. The four-week, in-person, immersive summer school course allows teachers to learn by doing: they observe expert instruction, teach real students in a class setting, and receive individualized coaching as they learn to apply the Slingerland Approach.
Sue Winters followed in Darlene Robertson's footsteps as the Certified Slingerland Instructor for Comprehensive classes at Assets School in 2024 and 2026. She worked closely with Tiana Lee, a Certified Slingerland Instructor on staff at the school.
Winters commends Assets School for using the Slingerland Approach and philosophy in everything they do. "The benefits are clear: students are successful and enjoy learning; teachers are confident in their pedagogy for teaching literacy skills. I congratulate Assets on becoming a strategic partner and look forward to our continued collaboration!"
A Slingerland Introductory Comprehensive Teacher Training class at Assets School in summer 2026.
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About Slingerland Literacy Institute:
Slingerland Literacy Institute (SLI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established through the work of Beth Slingerland. SLI seeks to transform education through the Slingerland Approach, which turns the science of reading into practical classroom strategies. www.slingerland.org
About Assets School:
Assets School is the only place in Hawaiʻi that specializes in teaching children who are gifted, dyslexic, and have other language-based learning differences from kindergarten to 12th grade. Learn more about Assets at www.assets-school.org.
About Slingerland Strategic Partner Schools:
Slingerland Strategic Partner Schools demonstrate a strong commitment to the Slingerland Approach through sustained teacher training and alignment with the Institute’s mission. Strategic partners can include public schools, independent schools, and entire school districts.
Slingerland Strategic Partner Schools demonstrate a strong commitment to the Slingerland Approach through sustained teacher training and alignment with the Institute’s mission. This partnership designation reflects internal standards of excellence and does not represent external accreditation or formal certification. Each Partner School shall be solely responsible for its teachers’ and staff’s actions, activities, and student outcomes in using the Slingerland Approach.
See Strategic Partner Schools and how to become a Strategic Partner at www.slingerland.org/strategic-partners
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