Dear friends,
I wanted to tell you of our success this week with SWR as an encouragement to many who start the program with older students who cannot read nor spell well. In May, I started SWR with my 8 yo son who was desperate to read "real books." He tested at grade 1.5 on his first diagnostic spelling test (the test itself was a horrible experience for him, he since has learned to enjoy them). He could read, but barely and with difficulty, just simple three-letter word readers. This week we finished Section I-2 and he has learned about 64 of the 70 phonograms. When we went to the library, he picked up a
children's fiction book that we had listened to on tape, about 80 pages long, at about a 4th grade reading level (I'm guessing). He said, "Mom, I want to read this." I was skeptical, but allowed him to
check it out. The next afternoon, HE READ THE WHOLE BOOK! He came to me here and there with difficult words (more than three syllables) and I showed him the phonograms hidden in them and helped him to read them. I did not read the words for him. I was floored and very very very thankful for SWR!! What had seemed like an insurmountable task for this average joe homeschooling mom was accomplished!! Today at lunch he asked me if he could have his own copy of the Bible to read
for himself, from beginning to end. :) Praise God! Isn't this why we teach our children to read? And now my son can read the Bible HIMSELF because he has the "magic tools" he needs.

OCTOBER 2007

I simply wanted to briefly share a wonderful experience regarding SWR.
I took my son to a learning specialist to further identify the source
of his difficulties. He has many speech and language, fine motor,
muscle tone, and visual challenges. The practicioner we saw specializes
in learning strategies that are neurologically sound. I explained what we
were doing with SWR and the preparation activities like "gluing" and "ungluing"
words and he said ..."PERFECT!" I didn't need him to tell me that this was a
GREAT PROGRAM, but it was wonderful to hear that WE WERE GIVING OUR SON
EXACTLY WHAT HE NEEDED TO HELP HIM ACHIEVE HIS FULLEST POTENTIAL.
Thanks Wanda!!!!

For those of you who are skeptical about the "advertised" reading and spelling gains children can make with this program, I am SOLD on it! My daughter went from a completely beginner reading level in November to the third-fourth grade reading level now in April! The praise doesn't stay with me...I was just the one who guided her with this wonderful reading/spelling program!

Julieanne M.

 I started using the TRHS/SWR/WISE program 2 1/2 years ago with my eager 4 1/2 year old daughter and we both loved it! I must admit I had LOTS of questions at the beginning, but this group (TeachingReadingHome-subscribe@yahoo.com) was wonderful.  I even thought I knew better, and would "alter" some of the phonograms & rules, but I learned that I really didn't know better.  This program has been wonderfully thought through completely.  I don't regret any of it. 

The preschool ideas in the new book are excellent! It builds the foundation of the program before they're even ready to write. Unfortunately life got busy, and my daughter started another phonics program (which does several sight words) with her cyberschool. I am able to review them with her and show her that these so called "sight" words really do follow rules, once you learn them. She is now 6, but has a much better foundation than her
peers.  I am now considering going back to the program, teaching cursive, and letting my 4 1/2 year old daughter join her. It takes work to teach, but it is not difficult to follow the
instructions.  There is preparation required, but I took the summer to read the book, make my sample notebook, and get ready to teach in the fall. The hardest part for me was disciplining myself to take 20-30 minutes a day and teach it. (More time required for older
children, but you can break it up.)

You have to admit, the cost is excellent compared to what is out there.  I recently saw a nice program with DVD's, manuals, charts, dry erase boards, markers, pencils, and workbooks, but it started at $199.
Lori

I bought SWR because I was convinced that it would give my child the
strongest foundation for a life of reading and writing, and I have
not been disappointed!  He has shown amazing progress; he just turned
6 today and is spelling at a fourth grade level and reading at about
5th to 6th grade level with ease.

The added benefit is that his 4-1/2 year old sister, who was in the
room during almost all of our "school" time this last year, already
knows all the single-letter phonograms, most of the mulit-letter
ones, and is starting to read words on her own, and she is LOVING
it!  She was always so excited to play the phonogram games with us,
and is now so proud of her "reading" all by herself.

So do I think 4.5 is too young to start?  No way!

I really love the logic of the program, and the way it makes sense of
the English language, and how it demolishes so much of the faulty
presumptions about spelling and spelling rules, thereby eliminating
the confusion that new readers can often experience when faced with
what seems to be contradictions of the language.

I also love that this program does not make the main objective to get
your child reading as soon as possible.  I clearly see that my
children are developing reliable tools that will serve them well all
their lives, and that their reading ability stems naturally from the
use of those tools.

News flash from the state of Pennsylvania

Jean Evans, one of our SWR trainers, in Pennsylvania teaches at a small Christian school. Her husband is the principal. They have less than 50 students in all 12 grades. Two of their sons graduated from the school and their youngest daughter is a current junior in high school there. Recently their school, Fundamental Baptist Academy, entered a state wide academic contest sponsored by the Keystone Christian Education Association. The TOP THREE spelling scores in ths sizeable state all came from this little school. Debbie Joy, Jean and Julian's daughter, was one of the three. The local newspaper carried a photo of the winners and a nice article. Let us rejoice together with Jean and her family for this great honor. Hard, diligent work over many years has produced great rewards. Let us all be inspired. Let us not be weary in well doing good, for in due season we will reap if we faint not.

I wanted to thank you so much for introducing me to Spell to Write and Read and The W.I.S.E. Guide to Spelling. After 10 years of home schooling 7 children (some with learning challenges) and repeated difficulties in reading and spelling, I feel I’ve finally found a program that addresses those problems and is eliminating them. If only we had started with it 10 years ago.

 My 16 year old has lost her dazed look and says spelling actually makes sense now. No other program I’ve used taught spelling first then reading nor have they addressed spelling the English language through consistent and thorough rules instead of whole words with TONS of rule breakers. Not only do I love it now, I’ve loved it for the whole school year. Usually I am disillusioned with a program after a few months use. Thanks again.

Leah F.

Lafayette, GA

 SWR is perfect!  I am using it with ages 11, 9, 6, and 4. I spend maybe 20-30 minutes with the younger ones, and they love it!  Wanda incorporates lots of fun games, and ideas to make it enjoyable for all ages!  She even has a section on how to keep interest high for preschoolers, and beginners.  I find it is wonderful for my non-reader as well as my 6th grader.  I love the fact that once you get the rhythm of it, you open the same book, in a different section for each child!  I am not a total unschooler, but, I like to be relaxed.  I was so pleased to find that SWR teaches it so effectively, that things stay enjoyable. The longer I use it, the more I love it.  It truly amazes me. I can not believe all of the thought that Wanda put into it, and how she organized it so effectively.  She integrates things and weaves them in so well that the kids don't know that they are learning more than just spelling!

Another HUGE concern for me was if SWR was laid out enough for me to not have to prepare all the time.  IT IS!  I love how each section tells me what to cover, and the spelling enrichments are very clear and easy to understand.  I basically read through the beginning of SWR, and then, I got the supplies ready and went for it!  It is very teacher
friendly and easy to use.  You don't have to read the manual forever; she gives sample lesson plans and tells you where to put your kids.

My 6 year old loves it, because she never knows what is coming next!  There is always something new or different to keep interest high! I like that it keeps the kids excited!

We use Konos, so we have a lot of read alouds, and things.  I found that SWR fits perfectly.  Of all the programs for Language Arts I have tried, I enjoy teaching this one the most.  It has been a breath of fresh air to our family.  We don't dread spelling lessons anymore.  It is short and sweet!  We all like it that way.

Joy

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