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Writing Road To Reading
Endorsement from A Parent

But Isn't This Really a Hard Program to Teach?

I feel the teacher-led verbal analysis process is what makes the WRTR such a  strong program. No guesswork, no failure. It is also one of the prime  elements which I feel makes the WRTR a truly classical curriculum.

Susan, (is the moderator for WRTR list service) I love your insight! You've hit the nail on the head! 

The verbal analysis component is what makes WRTR different from the other programs out there. Teaching the verbal analysis in WRTR is very Hard Work; learning to listen to me leading the verbal analysis is Very Hard Work for my children (especially when I start over from the very beginning when I notice that they're not paying attention!). Learning to write, read and spell using WRTR is very Hard Work. However, in my experience, most things worth having are Very Hard Work! It would be so much simpler to give the kids a workbook and say, "Ok, for the next fifteen minutes I want you to work on your spelling". But, I've piddle- paddled around with my oldest child's education long enough. I've shared in previous posts the things she has been through because she wasn't taught correctly in school. I'm not a "dyed-in-the-wool home schooler, I was not blessed with the burning desire to teach my children at home. If there was an excellent school available for my children, they would be in it. However, we live in a very rural area and the options are unacceptable.

So, now that I have my children home I'm committed to doing what ever it takes to make up for the lost time and ensure that these children of mine have the best education possible.

One of the primary things I'm committed to is WRTR (with the help of RW - whew! I'm glad I have it to hold my hand and tell me what to do!). My 12yo is convinced that she can not spell. She's been told by too many teachers, "it's okay honey, I'm not a good speller either, I just carry a dictionary with me".

Two years ago I was also convinced that some people just can't spell -- I bought her a Franklin speller (one of those computer dictionary's). However, after studying WRTR and RW, I'm now convinced that she can and will learn to spell (she is very, very bright). It's up to me to give her the tools to learn how to analyze the words. Just doing the first ten words today I could see light bulbs going on in her head! She's never been exposed to this stuff! She caught on to the question and answer flow very quickly, I'm confident that with these tools she will gain confidence and become an excellent speller.

Well, I've rambled long enough -- must get off my soapbox and go to bed!

I have heard that the WRTR is difficult to teach. Don't you have to attend a workshop to learn how to teach WRTR?

Oh, the dark and murky waters in which the WRTR reputation has wallowed for decades!! Yes, it does have that reputation, sad to say. Yet Jay is quick to contend that even when taught imperfectly the WRTR methodology is incredibly effective. Tomes of research has been accumulated over the past 40 years testifying to the power held within the WRTR text. While many programs claim to be multisensory, it took the research of Dr. Orton and the pedagogy of Spalding to create a methodology with "a stunning efficiency." (As stated by Dr. Sylvia Farnham Diggory of the University of Delaware, Professor of Educational Studies, and Director of the Reading Study Center.) Jay himself struggled with the presentation when he first started using WRTR, yet he saw incredible results in his classrooms despite his floundering.

As he continued to teach the WRTR, he streamlined the presentation, revised the instructions (flashcards) for the Spalding manuscript, and developed a workshop for parents, home educators, classroom teachers and special education instructors. He saw a need beyond the capacity of his workshops; "Reading Works " was born to serve that need.

When I first got started with WRTR, I used the RW manual without having attended the workshop and you can too! Jay presents the program in 50 sequential steps, and to move along in the program you simply need to turn the page! He provides us with word-for-word dialogue until he is confident we can proceed on our own. He makes himself available online or via the telephone should any problems arise. Finally, WRTR is truly available to the home educator without having to attend a workshop!! 

Sue Davis, 
WRTR Moderator