After long being a proponent of the philosophy that children learn to spell naturally through reading, I was won over to the cause of systematic, intensive phonics instruction for reading, spelling, and composition. Viewing the free introductory DVD for The Phonics Road to Spelling & Reading, course developer Barbara Beers convinced me of the logic behind systematically breaking the English language down into its component parts or building codes in order to learn the symbolic language we use to communicate in writing. As a natural speller I found it surprising that many skilled readers spell atrociously, even amongst homeschooling families. The oversight of systematic spelling instruction can be addressed from the start by incorporating its study along with reading instruction.
The Phonics Road uses the analogy of building a home to teach reading, writing, and spelling in a single integrated course. The young student is the apprentice and receives a building manual (a three-ring binder that includes all of their course work for the year) and toolbox (an index card box that holds their phonogram cards), and the parent/teacher is the foreman who receives a construction guide complete with DVD lesson plans, answer keys, ideas for reinforcement and more. The parent also sets up an index card box with the instructional flash cards that include instruction for printing, pronunciation and more on the back. Pencils and pens, the student clipboard, and unlaminated flashcards are all provided, and all parents need to do is purchase index boxes, small envelopes and some contact paper to get underway.
The construction guide is non-consumable, but the apprentice’s building manual will need to be purchased anew with each student. The manual is filled with non-reproducible worksheets that hold the students’ work and readers' waiting for illustration. When completed the manual forms a notebook that holds the keys to deciphering English in its written form.
Article comments
1 - Kim Kelsey
Dear Jennifer,
I found that Mrs.Beers class works best for me by watching the video with my children and letting her teach. You simple pause the video allowing them time to write the word and start it again.
I even do this with the grammar. We watch the vidoe together on Monday and then proceed through the week as scheduled.
Sincerely,
Kim Kelsey
Sunny Florida, USA