MCT Language Arts — the gifted-ELA tradition
Attribution. Developed by Michael Clay Thompson; published by Royal Fireworks Press. One of North America’s most rigorous classical English language arts programs, designed for students capable of genuine mastery.
How DODO uses it. DODO Learning is grounded in the principles and philosophy of the MCT Language Arts framework. The MCT tradition informs the Literacy and Composition strands of DODO’s LCS System — classical unabridged literature (the Mud Trilogy, Alice in Wonderland, Twain, Poe), Latin and Greek roots (Building Language, Caesar’s English), the writing arc (Grammar → sentence → paragraph → essay → academic composition), and the ear for how great writing is built. DODO delivers this tradition through live one-on-one Navigators and adds an oral-defence Speaking strand that no book curriculum can supply.
Source: Royal Fireworks Press · MCT curriculum overview
Harvard Project Zero — Visible Thinking
Attribution. Two decades of research from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, led by David Perkins, Ron Ritchhart, and colleagues. Formalises how students make their thinking visible through short, repeatable routines.
How DODO uses it. Every Think phase of DODO’s per-session Loop (Read → Think → Speak → Write) is anchored in a Project Zero Visible Thinking routine. Navigators are trained to open discussion with a routine (e.g. "What Makes You Say That?", "See–Think–Wonder", "Claim–Support–Question") before evaluating an answer. The first move after any student response is always a better question, never a grade.
Source: Project Zero at Harvard Graduate School of Education
The Lexile Framework for Reading
Attribution. A reading-measurement system developed by MetaMetrics. Measures readers and texts on the same 0L–2000L scale so that a student’s current level and the next stretch text can be matched with precision.
How DODO uses it. DODO administers Lexile assessments at ELA Program entry (Week 0), midpoint (Week 8), and exit (Week 16) using MetaMetrics-certified tools. Every Navigator is a certified Lexile assessment practitioner. Growth is reported in specific Lexile deltas — not vague "reading level" claims. Students typically advance one full grade level in reading across two 16-week cycles (per-cycle Lexile gains in the 100L–150L range).
Source: MetaMetrics · Lexile & Quantile Hub
6+1 Trait Writing Framework
Attribution. Developed by Education Northwest and used across BC, Ontario, and US Common Core-aligned classrooms. Evaluates writing on seven dimensions: Ideas, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, Conventions, and Presentation.
How DODO uses it. Every Writing Session output is scored against the 6+1 Trait rubric. Progress is reported per-trait so a parent can see specifically which dimensions have moved. Average 2× gain in 6+1 Trait score from program entry to exit, with the largest movements typically in Ideas, Organization, and Voice.
Source: Education Northwest · 6+1 Trait Writing
