Approximately 30% of us pick up reading with very little assistance. My youngest son fits into this category, and for him, the materials we received through My Father’s World were sufficient for providing him with the base he needed to become a strong reader. However, between 5%-20% of the population will not learn to read properly without a very structured and thorough reading program. My oldest son probably fits best into this category. In spite of reading to him on a daily basis and allowing him to read aloud to me on a daily basis, reading remained a huge struggle for him at age 8. I kept thinking that at some point things would just “click” for him. But by the end of school last year, I was realizing something simply had to change.
Thankfully this past summer I was able to get in on a couple of workshops which dealt with the issue of reading difficulties. While a couple of these workshops provided little practical help, one in particular gave me great hope. This workshop was put together by a mother of five, two of whom had struggled tremendously with reading. Her story resonated with me in so many ways. One of the most important facts which I picked out of the workshop was that most of those who struggle with reading struggle for the same reasons. While there are other factors which can lead to difficulty with reading, most people who struggle with reading are very visual/spatial thinkers. An architect, for instance, would likely fit into the category of a visual/spatial thinker. Many engineers would also fit into this category. As I see it, we need to be careful about labeling those who struggle to read as having a “learning disability.” When it comes down to it, we all have our strengths and weaknesses. We all have learning disabilities.
If I could do one thing over in regards to our homeschooling path, we would have started back in kindergarten using a more structured reading program alongside our MFW curriculum. Research shows that early intervention is key to overcoming reading hurdles. While it is not too late for us to catch up, we missed those optimal years of language development.
Spell to Write and Read has been the program I have chosen to go with, and I am very thankful that God brought the program into our lives. After just a few months of using the program, my oldest son is reading much more smoothly, and is able to sound out long words which would have completely perplexed him before. While reading is still not fluent for him, it is exciting to see such improvement. You may also be interested in reading Wanda Senseri’s senate speech on the subject of teaching reading.
At around $100, the Spell to Write and Read program is very affordable, especially when you consider the fact that it is a comprehensive reading and language arts program, not just a spelling program. While there are additional resources available along with the core program, they are not necessary for a strong start. It took me a few (frustrating) weeks to get the hang of the program. (I have a hard time with written directions.) In addition, I chose to make a few adjustments to the program based on what made sense to me. Ultimately, I am so very thankful to have the program, and foresee that we will be using it for years to come.
Be sure to read The Old Schoolhouse review of Spell to Write and Read. The program is also a top 100 pick by Cathy Duffy.
