The Phonics Road to Spelling and Reading: Introduction and Level 1

This will be long. Bear with me.

I find myself recommending this program frequently, and since I have much to say about it, typing the same things over and over again. I'm going to put all my thoughts here as a place to send folks who are interested in Phonics Road.
In 2005, my oldest son was finishing up second grade. I had taken a very relaxed approach to Language Arts up to this point. My son had learned to read with virtually no effort on my part, quite literally by watching Between the Lions. By second grade, with no formal phonics lessons, he was reading books like My Side of the Mountain. But he couldn't spell to save his life.

I realized there was something wrong with my approach. So, like anything else in my life, I started researching and praying. I was looking for a Language Arts program that was all-inclusive. I didn't want to have to piece-meal phonics from this place, handwriting from here, grammar from over there. And how would literature tie in? I needed it all in one place

I looked into Alpha Omega Lifepacs and other boxed curriculum. After reading reviews til I was cross-eyed, I concluded these were not for us. I wanted something meatier.

One day while looking through a copy of The Old Schoolhouse magazine, I saw a small, inconspicuous ad for a program called The Phonics Road. I'd never heard of it before. After reading the description and watching the demo on the website, I was sold. Mrs. Beers hit the nail on the head with her introductory statement, "Great spellers are always great readers, but great readers are often weak spellers!" This was exactly the problem I had with my son! I had been expecting him to learn spelling and grammar through osmosis by reading great books. It was not working. But I could totally see this program working. I was right, and as you read my review, you'll see why. The only drawback I can find is the program is very teacher-intensive. As a former English teacher, this doesn't bother me as of course I think Language Arts is super duper important! I simply can't see a child learning Language Arts properly while being self-directed. For our homeschool, we've determined that Language Arts will be our most teacher-intensive subject, and we do not regret this decision.

This little tidbit is relevent to all the levels and pertains to the theory involved in this curriculum. The spelling tests are spread throughout the year and are not your normal tests. The student does not study a list of words. This will be difficult concept for some parents to understand, but it makes so much sense to me now. Rather, you test the students (I test mine at the same time using one list. It's easier that way.) using a carefully scaled list of words. The number correct is on a provided chart that tells you the grade level at which they are spelling. To brag on Mrs. Beers, my 7 year old in second grade just took a test and scored at the 4.5 grade level. The reason for testing this way is to see the true level at which your child is comprehending spelling rules rather than seeing how well they can memorize a list of words. Studying for a test is a completely different skill set than understanding phonics rules. (See below for a special note concerning spelling tests.)

There are four levels in the elementary program, and three in the middle/high school program titled The Latin Road (which my oldest son will start next year). Here are reviews of each elementary level:

Level 1: Many people assume this is "First Grade", but I would stress with this program, do not equate levels with grades. Yes, each level is structured beautifully to be completed in one year, but that is not necessary for everyone. In fact, I urge you to take your time with each level. Because my son was starting Level 1 as a third grader, we flew through, and he has subsequently done a level per year. But with my three younger children, who are starting the program around 5 or 6 (instead of 9 like my oldest), I take my ever-lovin' sweet time. This program is so rich, deep and awesome (like chocolate cake.....) that I refuse to rush through any part of it. Right now my 5 year old is working on the phonics sounds, which are technically the first 5 weeks. We're just camping out there all year, and I'll start the writing sections with her next school year.

The teacher's manual comes complete with DVDs that explain the week's work. I always have my manual handy and take copious notes, especially as the levels get higher. Mrs. Beers gives excellent, easy to follow instructions and I now have four children who read above grade level as a result. If you have multiple children like I do, I have found that I do not need to re-watch the DVDs if I take great notes. Once in a blue moon, I'll pop a DVD in for a refresher, but it is very rare.

After mastering the phonics sounds (using flashcards and writing them) you begin with weekly spelling lists. What I adore about this method is the student isn't memorizing 'sight words'. I have a little saying: Sight words are of the devil. If teachers use "sight words" then they either don't know or are too lazy to teach the reasons behind spelling. Instead your child is using what they have learned of the letters, vowel teams and consonant teams, and putting them together to make words. This method teaches WHY we spell the way we do rather than simply "spell it this way" and it gets much deeper and involved as the years progress.

Level 1 consists of four sections for the student: Blueprints (spelling lists), Building Codes, Composition and First Readers. I've already mentioned the spelling lists. You, the teacher, will dictate five words a day. Having a white-board in your classroom is helpful, but not necessary. Without the white board (which is lost to us until our basement is finished) I dictate the word and have the student spell it for me verbally before writing it on their list while I watch for proper letter formation.

Building Codes: Here is where the student records phonics and spelling rules as you teach them. Mrs. Beers has come up with little songs to help the student (and teacher) remember these rules. They are catchy and really stick with the student. I really wish Mrs. Beers would produce a separate CD with just the Rule Tunes. Otherwise, you have to find them on the teaching DVD to refresh your memory. There is a hard copy of the words to each tune in the teacher's manual which is helpful, but as someone who can't really carry a tune, this can be painful to my children.

Composition: The students eventually build up to writing sentences.

First Readers: These are wonderful and probably my favorite part of this level. Often when children are learning how to read, they rely on the pictures in a book to figure out what the words say. These readers do the opposite. They are four-page stories with no pictures, increasing in difficulty as the year progresses. The student reads the page and illustrates what they read. This is not only fun, but it lets you see -- literally -- that the student understands what they are reading. After they are done, I staple the pages together and the student is so proud to show off their book and read it to a dad, grandparent or sibling.

This is getting long (as predicted) so I'll review each of the next levels in subsequent posts.


Special Note Concerning Spelling Tests:
After publishing this post, some readers who are also using Phonics Road were surprised by this revelation of tests and scoring keys. Apparently the tests and scoring scale are not included in all levels. First, understand that as I've been using this program with multiple students for multiple years, I've rearranged many of the included papers to new locations to fit my needs. Upon further examination, there are no Spelling Tests included in Level 1 (though I still give them as I'm testing my older students). There are four tests included in Level 2, but I cannot find a grading scale that came with the volume. Since I can't remember what I did yesterday, remembering how I graded those tests five years ago is a mystery to me. The good news is that if you are only up to Level 2, you can get a free printable scoring scale here. I've been using the scoring scale found in Level 3. In Level 3, there are three spelling tests, and the scoring scale is printed on the back of the third, making it impossible even for me to lose. Level 4 also has three tests and a scoring key.