More on Spalding as a total Language Program

[lamamaloca]

I have been using WRTR for spelling, and despite some frustrations I like much of it and it seems to be working. I have looked at expanding its use into writing and reading, but I have some questions.

One of my current frustrations with WRTR is that it includes concepts in the scope and sequence but doesn't include information in the text on those concepts. For instance, it lists when to teach prefixes and suffixes and various elements of them in the scope and sequence, but doesn't even have a simple list of prefixes and suffixes and their meanings. It lists at what grade to introduce, practice, master and review the concept of the principal part of a verb, but doesn't define that anywhere in the book. I understand how I would use the prescribed procedures to plan lessons to teach this, but I really need some kind of source for the information itself. If you use WRTR as a complete language program, do you have a source book for the grammar and parts of speech information? Is some of this information included in the grade by grade Teacher's Guides? My husband says I can just look it up on the internet. I'm not keen on that idea.

Thanks for your patience in answering my questions!

[Betty]

Thanks for your questions. The Teacher Guides have terms defined, and the prefixes and suffixes appropriate for each grade level are given in the writing objectives and usually applied using the words in the spelling objectives for that week.

During the writing lesson, teach rules 9-11, 21-22, 24, and 28 which all pertain to prefixes or suffixes and rule 26 for capitalization. All of the other rules pertain to pronunciation and are introduced in the spelling lesson before they are needed with the week's spelling words. These rules are then practiced in the writing lesson.

Parts of speech are defined, modeled in sentences, and practiced in the writing lesson. The [i]Teacher Guides are an excellent source for teaching all of these concepts at each grade level through sixth grade.

The Spalding Teacher Guides are divided into four sections. The first section, Planning, includes 32 weeks of spelling, writing, and reading objectives. The next section, Delivering, includes the strategies and procedures written in outline form that will help you teach the objectives effectively. The third section is Assessing and includes assessments and forms that can be copied. The last section, Evaluating, will help you identify concepts that your children do not understand and skills that need additional practice.

Betty
Spalding Executive Trainer