God designed children to learn through the patterns He embedded in creation, and The Writing Road to Reading harnesses these patterns to teach phonics naturally and effectively. From the moment a child begins attending to the rhythms of language, they’re developing the foundational skills needed for literacy. Yet many homeschool families struggle to find a phonics program for homeschool that aligns with how children actually learn.
Classical Conversations has endorsed The Writing Road to Reading by Romalda Bishop Spalding as the cornerstone resource for phonics instruction. This time-tested approach doesn’t just teach reading—it reveals the beautiful patterns woven into written language. For homeschool parents seeking a kindergarten reading curriculum that honors both the design of language and the design of the child, this method offers a proven framework rooted in how God created us to learn.
Patterns Permeate Our Universe
Patterns permeate our universe. From the spirals of far-flung galaxies to the spirals of ringlets in our child’s hair, God created patterns to bring us delight and wonder. God’s gift of pattern also provides rhythm, order, stability, and rest. Because the universe is ordered and predictable, discovering patterns is also the basis for learning.
Eratosthenes and the Earth’s Diameter (240 BC)
Consider the example of the Greek astronomer, Eratosthenes. In 240 BC, Eratosthenes was able to measure the diameter of the Earth using a stick and the measurement of its shadow. Because the exact day of the summer solstice could be predicted, Eratosthenes conducted an experiment measuring shadows at noon in Alexandria and Syene. Due to the precise pattern of sun and shadow, Eratosthenes was able to accurately calculate the circumference of the Earth.
Mendeleev and the Periodic Table (mid-1800s)
Not only did God hide patterns in His heavens, but also inside the earth. Patterns of the elements unlocked the mysteries of the universe for Mendeleev, enabling him to create the Periodic Table. Mendeleev discovered that the properties of elements could be predicted by their atomic weights, allowing him to arrange them in a predictable pattern. Because of this pattern, he was able to identify three gaps in his table. Based on the patterns of properties, he was able to predict both the existence and properties of three yet-to-be-discovered elements— gallium, scandium, and germanium.
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Patterns Unlock Mysteries
Not only has God placed patterns all around us, but He has also provided predictable rhythms within us. For instance, we are blessed to track an infant’s development from conception to birth. We can predict a child’s progression from sitting to crawling to cruising to walking. These regular rhythms are evident in how children learn about the world. As they discover new tastes, smells, sights, touches, and sounds, they begin to attend to the world’s patterns. This is especially true in language development.
At first, children learn language through listening and attending to the voices and conversations around them. They began to imitate sounds and words. Children learn that particular patterns of sound bring about enthusiastic responses from Mom and Dad. The first “mama” and “dada” bring thrills and smiles. “More” means a second serving of applesauce or another hug. Language takes on importance and encourages a focus on the spoken word. For a toddler, this unlocks a doorway of understanding.
Early Reading in Homeschool: Building on Verbal Language Patterns
As verbal language patterns develop, children grow in their understanding of written language. They gather new vocabulary for all sorts of things—from the names of tools in a toolbox to the names of constellations in the night sky. Word collections expand exponentially when parents read books and stories to their children.
Similar to the discovery of the patterns of “mama” and “dada,” children soon learn the patterns of more complicated sounds, words, sentences, grammar structures, and parts of stories. Children learn that “Once upon a time” brings anticipation and “they lived happily ever after” brings delight.
Listen to the Everyday Educator podcast: The Rhythms of Reading: Preschool to Post-School
Kindergarten Reading Curriculum: From Sound to Symbol
At this stage, children begin to recognize the importance of letter and word patterns. This is one of the first steps in phonics for homeschool. Names of favorite restaurants become recognizable and, to our dismay, so do the names of sugared cereal boxes in the grocery aisle. Parents soon recognize that their child is ready to learn another set of patterns—phonetic reading patterns.
Phonetic reading patterns are patterns of letters and letter combinations that help readers predict the sounds of written words. Before they could walk, young children had been discovering and experimenting with these phonetic patterns in speaking, so they are ready to apply this understanding to reading.
Recall that speaking comes naturally to children, but reading does not. Reading requires children to learn specific letter symbols and sounds, word patterns and families, syllabication, comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary. All these skills are necessary components of reading.
Consider what children gain when they learn these connections:
- The 26 letters of the alphabet combine in 70 different ways to create all the sounds in English
- These combinations become phonograms (written symbols for sounds), the building blocks of written language
- The phonogram “th” distinguishes “think” from “tank” or “tint”
- Each phonogram is a key that unlocks the sound of a word and the meaning it conveys
This moves children from simply sounding out words to recognizing the power and beauty of written language.
Why Classical Conversations Endorses Spalding’s Method
We may feel out of our depth in teaching our children to read, but there are plenty of resources available. Classical Conversations endorses Romalda Spalding’s The Writing Road to Reading. Spalding’s method has proven to be a respected reading program since the 1940s. One strength of The Writing Road to Reading is that its content is all-inclusive phonics for homeschool families. In other words, in one manual, parents have access to:
- all seventy major phonemes (or units of sound) along with the
- twenty-nine phonetic rules
- handwriting instruction for both print and cursive
- spelling lists
- recommended read-aloud books for each level
- grammar instruction
- complete instructions for implementing a phonics-based program.
Interactive Learning
Another positive aspect is that Spalding’s method is highly interactive—a parent’s involvement is crucial for success. Instead of handing out worksheets or sitting a child in front of a screen, parents and children work closely together to learn, memorize, and apply phonetic patterns to words. Both parent and child discover and delight in the beautiful arrangement and patterns of words.
Scaffolding for Success
With thoughtful and consistent instruction, The Writing Road to Reading builds a parent’s confidence by equipping them for each stage of teaching—from introduction to mastery. Parents begin by modeling and demonstrating each phonemic concept. They learn to coach and review as they guide and prompt their child to recall memory work. Scaffolding and fading are practiced as children gain mastery.
Handwriting and Spelling Connection
Along with phonemic mastery, children learn the correct pattern of writing letters, both in manuscript and cursive print. Spelling naturally follows as children learn how phonemes are used in word patterns and how specific rules apply to words. For instance, did you know that there are five ways the silent e is used?
Paving the Road to Essentials
The Writing Road to Reading also integrates learning the patterns of words by analyzing a word’s meaning. Grammatic sentence structures and parts of speech are also included, which prepare young learners for the Essentials program later. Examples of dialogues are provided to parents for each lesson. These examples equip parents with understandable language to explain each concept to their child.
Reading for Enjoyment and Empowerment
The Writing Road to Reading is not all work! Parents and children are encouraged to pick up a book every day and enjoy the pleasure of reading together as part of their phonics in homeschooling. To encourage family reading, a robust list of children’s literature for children ages four to twelve is provided.
Assess to Bless
Last, parents are supplied with several assessment methods from pretesting to ongoing oral and written phonogram (a symbol that represents a sound) reviews and quizzes. Spelling and writing notebooks are used to help both parents and children record their successes. Celebrations are encouraged!
Unlocking the Gift of Literacy
Spalding’s The Writing Road to Reading is superb in both its scope and sequence, because it equips parents to teach every aspect of reading and writing to their children. Natural and doable, Spalding’s method offers a restful sequential order of phonetic instruction for early readers. Both parents and their children discover the beautiful patterns of language God has hidden in His world. The mysteries of the patterned written word are unlocked.
For homeschool families seeking a phonics program that integrates seamlessly with classical education, that builds on developmental readiness, and that reveals the beauty of written language, The Writing Road to Reading offers a time-tested path. It’s more than a curriculum. It’s an invitation to unlock the gift of literacy, opening worlds of knowledge, beauty, and truth.
Choose The Writing Road to Reading Today
Learn more about phonics, reading, and the English language with these resources:
- Classical Phonics Instruction: How The Writing Road to Reading Complements Homeschool Curriculum
- How to Teach Phonics to Preschoolers: The Classical Approach
- Everyday Educator: Celebrate Summer A is For….. (Phonics Fun)
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