Customer Reviews

Writing Road to Reading 5th Rev Ed: The Spalding Method for Teaching Speech, Spelling, Writing, and Reading (Harperresource Book)

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

When I first heard about this system, I kept hearing and reading that "flashcards are in the book". NOT in this 5th edition.

They are in the EARLIER editions (little 3 1/2" squares that you can either cut out and laminate or make copies and paste onto 3x5 index cards if you don't want to ruin the book). The info on the cards is in the book, but not in the flashcard format--they hope that you will buy a set from them.

Also missing from this 5th edition but present in earlier editions (via one of those floppy 33 1/3 speed records) is a recording of the phonograms--why they didn't include a CD with this new edition and raise the price a tad is beyond me. You have to go to their site to buy a recording.

As to whether the 5th edition is an improvement over the previous editions, I have mixed feelings. Yes, there is more "teaching info", such as the dialogues the teacher should use (which you may not bother with if you homeschool), but in some ways it makes it more difficult to actually get to the lessons per se. The word list is extended. It still uses their "clock method" of teaching handwriting, which makes for that very round, old-fashioned "school" look. Many schools now teach D'Nealian, which supposedly is easier to transition to cursive handwriting later (imho, they should teach Italic calligraphy instead). It still has samples of the notebook pages, but in a different part of the book than where the teaching dialogues are (again, they assume that this book/system is being used in a classroom, and you have the laminated posters, as well as laminated flashcards for everyone). The earlier editions have the full-size sample pages right next to the actual lesson.

I actually felt it necessary, after buying the 5th edition AND after borrowing an earlier edition from my library, to buy one of the earlier editions (4th) used on Amazon in order to get the flashcards and the recording, as well as to more easily understand the lessons, because in the earlier editions the information is more or less presented and you move on, as opposed to being discussed at length as it is in the 5th edition.

Also, I was disappointed that the 5th edition, unlike previous editions, is printed on newsprint (it resembles a smaller phonebook both in heft and feel when you turn the pages) and not on better quality paper--I'm skeptical as to how long it will last over time, and with what is essentially a reference textbook, you want something that will last for more than one child.

Bottom line: the system is great. However, this 5th edition seems to really be written for classroom teaching--I feel that for homeschooling parents and someone learning on his own, that they would be well-advised to get an earlier edition (4th or 3rd) with the floppy record if you have access to a record player. The 5th does have an extended "parts of speech" writing portion, that the earlier editions don't have, but there are more interesting grammar books out there, for example, some of Karen Gordon's books.

We have tried several reading programs, but this is by far the best. Your child will learn handwriting, phonics, spelling, and most of all, reading! After just a few months of using the program my children's reading took off. My first grader can read on a fourth grade level, and my third grader can read on a sixth grade level. Do not confuse this all new book with its predecessor (4th edition). This book is twice the size of the old version and includes step by step instructions for implementing the program as intended by its creator, Romalda Spalding. You can't beat the price either.

Other guide books exist to use with the WRTR, but it would be a waste of your money to purchase them. Stick with the original and best! Although the program may seem difficult to implement at first, it is worth the time and effort and will repay your diligence many times over - stick with it and enjoy the benefits.

I can't say enough good things about this program. If you're looking for an effective and lasting program to teach your children to read (and spell and write), do yourself a favor and purchase The Writing Road to Reading.

For more information on this program, including detailed sample lesson plans, visit www.spalding.org

I strongly recommend the Writing Road to Reading (5th edition). It is a godsend for anyone helping a non reader of any age. It is a tremendous asset to home schooling parents. The Writing Road to Reading is a total Language Arts program. The 5th edition has simple instructions for implemetation. There isn't another Language Arts program on the market which is as comprehensive. The Writing Road to Reading begins with the fundamentals of handwriting and phonics and proceeds through spelling, grammar, reading and comprehension. It is modestly priced. The simple paper back book will serve generations. For those who want to understand the reasoning behind the instruction, there is great chapter on current research (Chapter 4-Theoretical Foundations).

I am a living testimony of the Spalding method. I am currently 34 years old and learned the Spalding method at a private school when I was growing up. I won Spelling Bees and went to speech contests and still seem to be able to "edit" or spell check better than any computer can. I took all of this for granted until it was time to decide where my child would go to school. The one thing I HAVE noticed is society, as a whole, is failing to properly teach our children to write, read, and to speak. I'm even finding grammatical errors on my teacher's aids and on billboards and on the ticker tape at the bottom of the news at 9. This has raised a red flag for me. It seems there are millions of people (including a LOT of people I know), that are horrible spellers, don't enjoy reading, can read, but have issues and are slow readers. As I've asked around and poked my nose into finding out why, I truly believe the method of learning how to read via the "Spalding Method" has helped me and grounded me in the area of language arts more than anything else I have learned in my life. I truly DO NOT trust any other method on the face of the earth as there is too much failure surrounding me. Grown adults who attended private school (as I did), but learned to write and read through a different method, cannot write nor read nor spell very well. I would love to put my child into private school and have the means to do so. There is not a private school locally that currently uses the Spalding method, therefore, I am forced to homeschool. This book alone can be confusing. This book, paired with the teacher's manual for the grade one may be interested in, will help one TREMENDOUSLY. I had the book, and then ordered the whole "kit" from spalding.org and now we are sailing through Kindergarten and LOVING IT! I read the Writing Road to Reading, 5th Rev Ed once. Then I jumped into the teacher's manual and we did a couple of weeks of school. I felt I was "missing" something, so I just skimmed the important parts of the Writing Road to Reading again, and magic happened. The whole method and why it works and why the psychology of it stays with you for life, just sunk in like water on fresh mowed grass. YES! Even though I had learned through this method and was reading at a college age level in second grade, I did not know what magic my teachers had performed and had to "be taught how to teach" for myself. FYI, the spalding.org website also has online "chat" to help you through any "bumps" along the way.

Firstly, I have recently began homeschooling my children and was unsure which direction to take. Secondly, it is helpful to have a mentor who teaches their children in a way that appeals or applies to your own situation.I was only able to use this book with someone who was experienced in using it.
I have to say I TRULY enjoy using this book to teach my children to read and as they learn to write, they dont even realize they are learning to read by learning the uses of their letters as phonograms and such. All the information you could need is in one book, though there is a catch to it. It is not organized in a way that is understandable to a person who isnt familiar with the concept. There is a lack of organization and structure because the information is broken up throughout the book and/or chapters.
EXAMPLE: If you are teaching phonograms to your children, it is not in just one place. You have to go to page 300 to explain it to the adult. Then, page 67, to explain to to your children, then page 89 to teach its correct written form.
BUT there is a way to get the benefit of this book... without ALL the hassle. (BECAUSE the book is a truly valuable teaching tool for parents, teachers and children.) Writing Road to Reading has produced a teaching manual to help you format your teaching according to grade. Also, I tabbed my book with each section to help find concepts faster.

Thoroughness: 5
Ease of understanding: 5
Organization: 2

Kids can pick up a lot more than you realize, Penelope. I learned to read using this same method, when I was a kid in the 1970's, and to this day, I never mis-spell a word, and I still remember all the markings, rule numbers, and phonics sound numbers. I have taught my own kids to read with this method, and in kinder and 1st grade, they could spell better than most 5th graders. They automatically remember to underline phonograms and number them according to which sound they make. I totally disagree with Penelope who said Spalding is too complex for kids to learn - kids are like sponges that soak up everything you teach them. When they learn the rule numbers and markings, it becomes second nature to spell, write, and pronounce things correctly when reading. For example, you underline "th" in a word, because you don't want the child to say "t" and then "h". By underlining it, they learn to recognize "th" as a separate sound. If it says "thin" then that's the first sound of "th", but if it says "this" then you put a #2 above the underlined "th" to show that it's the 2nd sound of "th". It's not hard - my kids picked it up right away, and they even recognize and point out phonics sounds and rules while reading. There are also rules that they learn to recognize, such as rule #2, that says the letter "c" always says it's 2nd sound (s) if it's followed by an e,i,or y. My kindergartner can understand that and recognize it in words, so why shouldn't an adult understand it? If an adult doesn't understand it, it's because she hasn't taken the time to study the method before teaching it. Yes, you do need to spend time reading the method first, but it's worth it, when you see your kids reading and spelling better than kids older than themselves.

The Writing Road to Reading (WRTR) is an amazing method. It is based on the research done by Dr. Samuel Orton beginning in the 1920's. His research delved into the how and why of learning to read and the difficulties some children experience. His results were nothing short of astonishing. He discovered how all children can learn successfully. His method used all the modalities: visual, auditory, kinestic and tactile. Romalda Spalding, a teacher, worked with him for approximately two years. She developed the Spalding Method based on his research and his direction. The Spalding Method is laid out in full in the WRTR. This program is a K-8 complete curriculum. The cost is amazingly low, while the benefits are amazingly great.
I am teaching three of my children this method; two have started this method at the beginning of their school career, the other began at age 10. Although, the 10 year old did not have difficulties with language the method greatly benefited her logical reasoning when reading and spelling. It also greatly improved her cursive handwriting. My second child was destined to have learning difficulties; he exhibited all the signs. He now is meeting all his milestones.
The research I and others have done on language arts curriculums demonstate that methods that are based on Dr. Samuel Orton's work are superior to all others. The Spalding Method, being written by a teacher, is far easier to teach and more logical for the students then all the curriculums I have reviewed. The Masters of Education that I am currently working on is in Curriculum Development.

I was taught this method at six years old and continued throughout my elementary career until I was 12. This program has helped me in a number of different ways. It has given me a new appreciation of the English language. I am proud to have participated in the Spelling Bee, and got first place in my grade level for three years in a row. At age 11 I was reading at a college level. I am now a high school sophomore in an Advanced Placement English class.

I am definitely teaching my future children this. English is a complex language; this program breaks it down into simple steps that make perfect sense. If it seems too hard, you arent doing something right. I would recommend attending an instruction based class on Spalding to see how it really is.

I am a special education teacher and currently use this book and the entire method in my middle school classroom. I have seen average gains of two to three grade levels in reading. For those reviewers who claimed the book was too complex, or did not teach homonyms or homographs, they are doing the method wrong. The method starts very basic with simply learning the shapes that go into making letters, then letters, then words. Kindergarteners do NOT write the words. First graders do not write the rule numbers. When they do begin writing the numbers, they are not complex and are easy to rember such as "Rule 4: A (or any vowel) may say a (the name a) at the end of a syllable. (You do not say the parentheses). There are some harder rules but they are taught at the upper grades when those rules come into play in grade appropriate words. After the weeks spelling words are dictated, then there should be an appropriate grammar lesson to deal with vocabulary, homonyms, homographs, word usage etc. If you want to skimp and do the method they lazy way, then yes, you may not get the results you want. However, if you do the method in its entirety, you will see wonderful results. Children learn what we expect them to. I have collegues that teach in primary grades that see excellent results. For example, one teacher uses this method to teach English to non-English speakers. Another used this method with his third grade class that was comprised of all below grade leve, border line special education students and by the end of the year, they all tested above grade level. If you can take a course, it is best as it will give you instructions on how to do the method. If not, read the book, practice and you will see results.

I have tried out at least 4 other programs (Phonics Pathways, 100 EZ Lessons, HOP, Explode the Code) to help my daughter learn to read and none were as helpful as this book. My daughter (about to turn 6 and going into K) just didn't get the concept of blending. She's smart enough to figure out word patterns (at, rat, fat, cat) to give you the answer your looking for, but put those words in a book and she couldn't figure out how to sound those words to save her life. This was a back door for us, I didn't tell her we were going to read, just learn a new word to spell today. Before we got to spelling, I just said we were going to play "What's that sound". (I didn't tell her or say we were doing the lessons from the book, it was just fun and slow paced for her). It's a game that I made up...I asked her to write the letter that liked to make the sound "t" and so fourth, until she learned the phonograms. When I began spelling with my daughter, I followed the instructions of dictating the word and starting with the first word on the Ayres List "me". I modeled and told her that I would spell "me" and explained out loud as the book describes. Then the next day or a few days later I would ask her to spell "me" in her spelling notebook. I end each week by giving her pop quizes to see how well she retains the words we have covered from the Ayres list. We will be moving on to "I spy" games...where I will ask her to "hunt for" the words she knows in books to get her slowly started reading. This book really helped me to figure out that my daughter just couldn't handle too much information at once, she just gets a bad case of sensory overload and this is the only program that is working for her. I am VERY SLOWLY starting her back on HOP, because I like the leveled readers for reading practice. She still struggles, but without the TWRTR I don't know what I would have done.

Some have commented on how cumbersome the book is and I'll agree with that, I wish there were a companion with all that information formatted in a lesson plan layout. It would save me the trouble of scanning over pages and pages to make sure I don't miss anything (this is the only reason I didn't give five stars). I also know another home school mom whose entire family uses it and they have given me a few key pointers that helped make our lessons go smoother.

Your child, by the way, does not need to learn to write at a young age to learn the sounds. There are passages that explain how to teach at each age level (from at least 4 yrs, 5 yrs, K and up--I can't remember if it explains for younger than 4 yrs old), but you better get out a pencil and write notes in the margin as you read, because it is hard to find the instructions for each age. I did have to read this book cover to cover over Christmas break to get the "big picture" and with the progress my daughter has made, I would say it was worth it.