Frequently Asked Questions

When I purchase a Fuchs product, what am I allowed to do with it?

The reproduction, distribution, and display of any part of the contents of our manuals and/or CDs is strictly limited to activities intended for use with students in a single classroom by the instructor for whom the material was purchased. The copyright owners of PALS, Fraction Face-Off!, Hot Math, Number Rockets, Pirate Math, Math Wise, Maze Passages, Reading Passages & Word Counts, Word Identification Fluency, Letter Sound Fluency, and Super Challenge reserve the right to pursue legal action for any known acts of copyright infringement. The legal penalties of violating any of the copyright owners’ exclusive rights granted by the Federal Copyright Act include, but are not limited to, a fine and potential imprisonment.

Can I make photocopies of the manual that I purchased for other teachers at my school?

No. MATERIALS CAN NOT BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE AUTHORS. All intervention and assessment programs developed by Vanderbilt University are defined as literary works and accordingly, the reproduction, distribution, and display of any such material is protected by Federal Law, Title 17 of the United States Code.

What do I get if I purchase licensing and/or perpetuity?

As of 3/11/24, we are actively in the process of phasing out licensing. If you have purchased a license in the past, your license allowed schools to purchase one copy of a product and to make photocopies for more teachers to use by paying a licensing fee per user. Products that had the option to be licensed had two licensing options:

1. One licensing fee paid for use of the purchased product for one teacher for one year.
2. A licensing fee plus perpetuity paid for use of the purchased product for one teacher for 1+ years.

All licenses paid for and received up to this point remain valid until the expiration date on the license. Please reach out to the Fuchs Research Group if you have any questions.

Who has distribution rights for Fuchs products?

The Fuchs Research Group at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University has developed a portfolio of proprietary research-validated programs for reading and math intervention and assessments. The Fuchs Research Group, and Vanderbilt University by default, hold all the legal rights of ownership to these programs for which Dr. Lynn Fuchs and Dr. Doug Fuchs are the principal developers. Consequently, Vanderbilt University has retained all distribution rights and as such is the sole source provider and distributor of the programs and assessments listed below.

Why are student materials not listed under PALS reading like they are under PALS math?

All the PALS reading manuals include the student materials. Kindergarten and 1st grade math also include student materials. The teacher’s math manual past grade 1 includes grades 2-6 and have separate student materials, sorted by grade. So, these must be purchased in addition to the teacher’s manual.

What do the PALS manuals contain?

All PALS Reading Manuals and PALS Math for Kindergarten and 1st grade include student materials. Math PALS contains scripts for Grades 2-6. The student math manuals are sold separately.

What does the term “All-inclusive” mean when ordering manuals?

Our “All-inclusive” manuals contain both the teacher’s manual and the supplemental materials in a paper format. Our other manuals contain teacher’s manuals in a paper format and supplemental materials either on a CD or pen drive.

How do I get training?

Visit our Fuchs Tutoring Training Request page to sign-up. You will need to indicate the type of training (e.,g., reading or math), the grade level requested, the number of people to be trained, and your location. You will be contacted by a PALS trainer and can negotiate dates. More information about training can be found here.

Can we order the large poster size board we’ve seen on the video?  Is that the Large Print Manual?

The large poster board was actually made for the video.  We do not sell that as a product.  Any page can be blown up at a local print shop and made into a poster board. The Kindergarten Large Print lessons are simply an 8 x 11 manual full of worksheets in larger size print as younger students work better and like bigger pictures.

What grade levels is PALS designed for?

Originally, PALS was designed to be used in grades 2-6 classrooms. Recent PALS research and program development has focused on downward and upward extensions of PALS. This has led to Kindergarten PALS (K-PALS), First-Grade PALS, 2-6 PALS and and High-School PALS in reading. PALS is also available in math from Kindergarten to 6th grade.

What do I need to implement PALS?

Materials are minimal and inexpensive. To learn about PALS, teachers will need the PALS grades 2-6 teacher’s manual. To train the class, teachers will need a box of blank transparencies, an overhead projector, and a transparency pen. Each pair of students will need pocket folders to hold the PALS materials. So if there are 26 students in a class, the teacher will need to purchase 13 folders. We also recommend that teachers purchase a kitchen timer to help with pacing during the lesson. In PALS Math, K-PALS Reading and First-Grade PALS Reading, teachers will also need to make a significant number of copies of the student lessons.

How do teachers train their students?

Carefully training students in the basic PALS procedures is very important. All necessary training lessons are in the grades 2-6 teacher’s manuals. These lessons are scripted with wording we have found to be successful in communicating what students must learn. An outline of the material covered in each lesson is also presented.

It is a teacher’s choice how to present the lessons. Teachers study the outlines to understand what is to be covered. Most rely on the scripts to present the material while others rely primarily on the outline to guide their classroom presentations. Still others study the scripts and then highlight the portions they intend to present. When teaching PALS to their students, teachers typically use their own words most of the time but follow the script when they believe it is important. No matter how one teaches these lessons, teachers should feel comfortable elaborating on any concepts students do not seem to understand.

All manuals include training timelines to help schedule lessons. DVDs are available for grades 2-6 reading and math, kindergarten reading and math, and High-School reading to assist with training.

Does the PALS program provide specific reading and math materials for students?

PALS Math includes student worksheets that target the basic skills at each grade level. K-PALS and First-Grade PALS reading includes a set of 70 student lesson sheets, and teachers choose appropriate reading material for partner reading. PALS does not provide any reading material for students in grades 2-6 or high school; it is the teacher’s responsibility to select appropriate reading materials.

Will PALS replace my existing reading and math program?

No. PALS is meant to supplement, not replace, other reading and math instruction.

How much class time is needed for implementation for PALS reading?

• K-PALS is implemented 3-4 times a week for approximately 30 minutes per session.
• First-Grade PALS is implemented 3-4 times a week for approximately 35 minutes per session.
• Grades 2-6 PALS Reading is implemented 3 times a week for 35 minutes per session.
• High-School PALS is implemented 5 times every 2 weeks for 35 minutes per session.

How much class time is needed for implementation for PALS Math?

K-PALS is implemented 2 times a week for approximately 30 minutes per session.

• First-Grade PALS is implemented 3 times a week for approximately 30 minutes per session.
• Grades 2-6 PALS Math is implemented 2 times a week for approximately 30 minutes per session.

How do you know that PALS works?

Over the past 30 years, repeated evaluations of PALS Reading and Math by Vanderbilt researchers indicate that mainstreamed students with learning disabilities, low-achieving students without disabilities, average-achieving students, and high-achieving students make greater progress in PALS Reading and Math classrooms than their respective counterparts in non-PALS classes. Additionally, there have been independent evaluations conducted by educators in California, Iowa, and Texas. These independent evaluations also find a strong “value-added” for PALS Reading and Math. Based on these findings, the U.S. Department of Education’s Program Effectiveness Panel approved PALS Reading and Math for inclusion in the National Diffusion Network of effective educational practices.

What are the benefits of PALS?

There are many benefits for students and teachers who practice PALS.

• Is affordable and easily implemented;
• Optimizes instructional resources in the classroom;
• Actively involves all students in tasks they can perform successfully;
• Increases student opportunity to read and practice basic math skills;
• Motivates students to do better in reading and math;
• Provides positive and productive peer interaction;
• Creates opportunity for lower functioning students to assume an integral role in a valued activity;
• Allows students with disabilities to spend more time in a less restrictive environment and increases their access to the general education curriculum;
• Helps teachers accommodate academic diversity;
• Accelerates student achievement in reading and math;
• Is found to be an enjoyable activity by teachers and students.

Do PALS and CBM have to be used together?

PALS and CBM (Curriculum-Based Measurement) were designed to complement one another, but do not have to be implemented together to be effective. Many teachers use PALS and CBM with excellent results.

Where is PALS being used?

Hundreds of teachers in the Metropolitan Nashville Davidson County Public Schools and in neighboring school districts use PALS Reading and Math. PALS outreach activities have included on-site, day-long workshops for thousands of teachers in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Arizona, Ohio, and elsewhere.

What does PALS cost?

For information about our teacher manuals, implementation ready materials, and DVDs, please see the Order Form on the PALS home page.

How will I be refunded if I purchased using a credit card?

If the return meets ALL the qualifications for a refund, a credit will be issued to the same credit card to which the original purchase was made.

How do I order with a credit card?

Go to the ordering landing page and select credit card ordering. There are details instructions there for ordering with a credit card. Once you complete your order on that page, you will be redirected to the bank’s website to complete the credit card transaction. Do not close that page until the order has gone through and you receive confirmation from the bank.

How soon can I receive my order?

Once we have processed your order, expect delivery within 1-2 weeks.

Can I call in my order?

Sorry we do not take phone orders. Please go to the ordering page and select one of our two purchasing options; credit card or purchase order.

Do I need a purchase order number in order to pay with a purchase order?

Yes you do. Go to the ordering landing page and click on the pay later option. Select the products and quantities you want to purchase, then check out. You will be required to input your purchase order number in order to complete the online order form.

How do I pay for a purchase order?

Once your order is processed, a bill is shipped with the products and a check can be mailed to:
Vanderbilt University
Attn: Fuchs Research Group
230 Appleton Place, PMB 228
Nashville, TN 37203

What is the delivery policy?

We ship all orders for manuals via United Parcel Service (UPS). As a convenience to our customers who are shipping within the continental United States, we will ship UPS ground at no cost to you. Customers shipping to an international address or to Hawaii or Alaska and customers requesting expedited shipping must bear the cost of shipping. For such requests, please contact us at frg@vanderbilt.edu for a shipping quote or for a list of the UPS expedited shipping options available based on your ship-to address. Delivery of your order is based on the origination point of shipping (Nashville, Tennessee) and the ship-to address provided. Estimated delivery dates are not guaranteed when using UPS ground and delivery can take between 2 – 12 business days. Vanderbilt is not responsible for delivery delays caused by weather, missed pick-ups or connections or other unforeseen events. Once your order leaves Vanderbilt University, we rely on UPS to fulfill their responsibility for delivery. Vanderbilt University is not responsible for orders that are deemed undeliverable or for which delivery is delayed because of an incomplete or inaccurate ship-to address provided by the customer.

Who can I ship my returns through?

The preferred shipping carriers for returns are: 1.) UPS and 2.) FedEx as they will deliver directly to our offices. We discourage returns sent through the Unites States Postal Service. We reserve the right to decide not to accept or credit any returned materials that are damaged. Your cooperation under either of these circumstances is greatly appreciated.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes we do!

Do I get free shipping internationally?

No. Email frg@vanderbilt.edu to get a shipping quote to your international location.

How can I pay for my purchase?

International orders must be paid for via credit card.