The Writing Road to Reading:

The Spalding Method of Phonics for Teaching Speech, Writing and Reading/Book and Record

Ramalda Bishop Spalding, with Walter T. Spalding.

William Marrow and Co.

ISBN 0-688-10007-4

When a child is born he or she already has at their disposal every phoneme human language requires. Then, it doesn't take long before they pick up some chalk or a fat crayon, and they quickly gain every tool they need to write. It seems a child is born to language.

Then, when it comes to putting language into writing a child seems destined to doom. The schools have relied on rote to teach this skill. The children would be taught to read, write, and spell in "tree easy lessons" at prescribed times and places. This often leaves the creative child (pagan children are encouraged to be creative) on the roadside.

By combining these three disciplines the child will gain an optimal level of skill. The Writing Road to Reading is not a textbook for the child. It is, rather, geared to be a tool for the child's tutor. It provides a supplement to a curriculum Ms Spalding has good advice on how to school a child's writing skills.

While a child is learning to draw her or his letters, this child is practicing the phonemes in all their forms. As the child develops, spelling is introduced as a string of phonemes. Spelling is developed according to the child's age and ability.

Included, are several reading lists. These are meant to be read by the student, with what tutelage is needed.

These guide lines maybe accelerated or slowed to match the students' skill. However, they are best applied in the order presented.

As an additional benefit, I have found these techniques to help me school my own writing skills. My writing suffered under a school system that was over burdened and unprepared for a creative child. While building a curriculum under the direction of this book, my own spelling and writing have improved considerably. Never believe an old dog cannot learn new tricks.

I highly recommend this book to any who will tutor a child in, whether in home education or public schools.

The fourth edition includes a recording of the seventy phonograms. This helps, as proper pronunciation is essential for this program.