The Spalding Program -
The Writing Road to Reading
Teaching Speech, Spelling, Writing and Reading
The Spalding Method is a proven, research-based treatment method for children of all ages with reading and or writing difficulties. It has helped millions of children significantly improve spelling, writing and reading test scores and classroom performance.
Why is Reading and Spelling so Difficult?
Reading ability is not neurologically pre-wired in our brains as speech is. An enduring misunderstanding in reading instructional theory is that children will instinctively discover the rules of written language if they immersed in it – as they do for spoken language – but that is because we are pre-wired to learn and understand speech. Our brains are not however, pre-wired for reading. Left to their own devices, most children would not learn how written language works and will think that this failure is their fault.
Reading is now recognised as a complex skill which requires the coordination of multiple sub skills, just like playing a musical instrument does. The core reading sub skill is forming links between sequenced speech sounds and the corresponding letters that represent these sounds. Letter-sound correspondence should be specifically taught along with the various rules that apply to their use. Being able to verbalise these rules clearly means that pupils are then able to apply them extensively and efficiently. These sub skills enable fast, fluent decoding of written language, and this then leads to deeper understanding. It is imperative to first learn, practice and apply decoding skills and to make them automatic, which is what the Spalding program does, so that pupils can then access higher-order comprehension skills.
“The Spalding Method is … effective because the principals and methods of instruction are well grounded in reading research, as appropriate for individuals with dyslexia and other language-based reading disorders as well as for students in regular classrooms.” Sylvia Richardson
Features of the program
“Despite having a master’s degree in learning disabilities, I was not successful in teaching my special education students (many of whom were dyslexic) what they most wanted to learn – how to read- until I took my first Spalding course in 1985. Since that time, I have seen many angry, withdrawn, or depressed students become eager, participating learners because they finally understand how English works. As I continue to teach students who are falling through the cracks of our educational system, I know I will never stop using this wonderful method” Eileen Oliver
The Spalding Method is a proven, research-based treatment method for children of all ages with reading and or writing difficulties. It has helped millions of children significantly improve spelling, writing and reading test scores and classroom performance.
Why is Reading and Spelling so Difficult?
Reading ability is not neurologically pre-wired in our brains as speech is. An enduring misunderstanding in reading instructional theory is that children will instinctively discover the rules of written language if they immersed in it – as they do for spoken language – but that is because we are pre-wired to learn and understand speech. Our brains are not however, pre-wired for reading. Left to their own devices, most children would not learn how written language works and will think that this failure is their fault.
Reading is now recognised as a complex skill which requires the coordination of multiple sub skills, just like playing a musical instrument does. The core reading sub skill is forming links between sequenced speech sounds and the corresponding letters that represent these sounds. Letter-sound correspondence should be specifically taught along with the various rules that apply to their use. Being able to verbalise these rules clearly means that pupils are then able to apply them extensively and efficiently. These sub skills enable fast, fluent decoding of written language, and this then leads to deeper understanding. It is imperative to first learn, practice and apply decoding skills and to make them automatic, which is what the Spalding program does, so that pupils can then access higher-order comprehension skills.
“The Spalding Method is … effective because the principals and methods of instruction are well grounded in reading research, as appropriate for individuals with dyslexia and other language-based reading disorders as well as for students in regular classrooms.” Sylvia Richardson
Features of the program
- It teaches systematic phonics
- Child centred – your child progresses at their own pace, not one directed by the national curriculum.
- Explicit, interactive and diagnostic – new skills are explicitly explained, taught and modelled.
- Sequential – activities build on simple to complex skills, cumulatively.
- Multisensory – the Spalding program uses teaching strategies that engage all the senses to best entrench writing, spelling and reading skills.
- Integrated – the connection between speaking, writing and reading is taught and reinforced across many and varied contexts.
“Despite having a master’s degree in learning disabilities, I was not successful in teaching my special education students (many of whom were dyslexic) what they most wanted to learn – how to read- until I took my first Spalding course in 1985. Since that time, I have seen many angry, withdrawn, or depressed students become eager, participating learners because they finally understand how English works. As I continue to teach students who are falling through the cracks of our educational system, I know I will never stop using this wonderful method” Eileen Oliver
