Evidence-Based Literacy, Language Processing and Math Interventions: Descriptions & Research on Seeing Stars®,Visualizing & Verbalizing®, LiPS®, and On Cloud Nine®
August 14, 2025
Supporting Evidence-Based Intervention Choices for Your Clients
At Novaread, we understand that psycho-educational assessments often reveal the causes behind a student’s learning challenges, but families still need a clear, research-backed path forward. Our work bridges that gap.
We use evidence-based programs designed to address the root causes of reading, writing, comprehension, and numeration difficulties. Each intervention is built on decades of research and validated through independent studies, including brain imaging research that shows measurable changes in the areas of the brain responsible for these processes.
Below, we’ve summarized the research behind each program we use at Novaread. We’ve also provided direct links to the original studies so you can verify the evidence and understand exactly how these interventions help students move from their current challenges toward school and life success.
Seeing Stars® — Symbol Imagery for Reading, Spelling & Writing Fluency
What It Is
Seeing Stars® develops symbol imagery — the ability to create mental pictures of letters and letter patterns. This skill is essential for accurate decoding, word recognition, spelling, fluent reading and efficient writing.
Why It Matters
- Begins with visual memory for single letters and letter sequences.
- Builds to visualizing whole words automatically, reducing decoding strain.
- Frees mental resources for comprehension and written expression.
Evidence It Works
Studies at the MIT McGovern Institute found significant cortical thickening in reading-related brain areas after Seeing Stars instruction, with strong gains for low-SES students and those with severe reading challenges.
A Nature Communications study showed widespread white matter changes linked to improved reading fluency, spelling accuracy, and written output.
Read the MIT cortical growth study summary
Read the Nature Communications white matter change study
Visualizing & Verbalizing® — Concept Imagery for Comprehension and Expression
What It Is
Visualizing & Verbalizing® (V/V) develops concept imagery — the ability to create detailed mental images from written and oral language – supporting comprehension, memory, and expression.
Why It Matters
- Starts with building mental imagery from simple pictures.
- Progresses from picture-to-picture, to word imagery, to sentence and multi-sentence imagery.
- Teaches students to connect details, sequence events, and form complete “gestalt” meaning from language.
- Enables students to comprehend, retain, infer, predict, and clearly express ideas orally and in writing.
Evidence It Works
Multiple studies show significant gains in comprehension, oral language, and writing after V/V instruction, especially for students with language processing deficits.
Read the Visualizing & Verbalizing research summary
LiPS® — Phonemic Awareness for Decoding and Spelling
What It Is
The Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing® (LiPS®) program develops awareness of individual speech sounds (phonemes) in words, laying the foundation for decoding and spelling.
Why It Matters
- Begins by teaching students to feel how sounds are produced in the mouth.
- Helps identify and sequence sounds to form words.
- Strengthens the sound-to-letter connection for accurate decoding and spelling.
Evidence It Works
Research shows LiPS® improves phonemic awareness and decoding skills, with lasting benefits for students with dyslexia and other reading challenges.
Read the LiPS research summary
On Cloud Nine® — Math Concept Imagery for Numeration and Problem Solving
What It Is
On Cloud Nine® develops numerical concept imagery — the ability to visualize numbers, quantities, and relationships — forming a strong foundation for numeration and problem solving.
Why It Matters
- Begins with concrete imagery of small quantities and their symbols.
- Builds to visualizing larger numbers, place value, and number lines.
- Supports mental math and multi-step problem solving with a strong conceptual base.
Evidence It Works
Studies show significant gains in math fact fluency, computation, and applied problem solving for students with weak number sense.
