I love the Spell to Write and Read program for teaching phonics, spelling and reading to my children. I know from experience that Spell to Write and Read (SWR) can seem daunting when you first get it. In this video I try to demystify the program for you so that it’s not so overwhelming.
You can read my review of the Spell to Write and Read program or visit their website for even more information. I also have helpful tips for overcoming the challenges of the SWR program that you might want to check out.
Can’t see the video? Watch here.
Here is a list of what I cover in the video with the times each segment starts.
- Introduction
- 2 Reasons SWR Looks Overwhelming 1:24
- Explaining the SWR Core Kit 5:45
- Learning Logs 8:55
- How the SWR Materials Work Together 10:05
- Wise Guide 10:30
- Teacher’s Manual 14:15
- Phonogram cards, Rule Cards and Learning Logs 16:37
- Closing 17:30
Thanks for sharing! I have been using Spelling Power and I have a friend who used Spell to Read and Write and I did find it overwhelming. This looks great as an option. Did all your kids start with it or did you have to gradually switch your kids over to it? Also, when you talk about the logs- when you say younger and older what do you mean? This did actually help demystify this a little for me! 🙂
Elizabeth,
I’m so glad the video helped you better understand the program. It can be intimidating at first!
I started my younger kids in the SWR program from the beginning. My older daughter used a different program and was already in junior high when I switched over to SWR. I figured that since she could read so well her spelling would be okay but that is not the case. I started working with her in SWR as a high schooler to improve her spelling. It really is a program for all ages (even adults)!
I switch my kids to the black learning log when they are in 3rd or 4th grade (depending on the child and their handwriting and spelling skills). Hope that helps!
Super helpful video, Janelle! I love being able to see all the materials and inside the books to help me make a choice. 🙂
Margaret,
I’m glad to hear it was helpful! Let me know if you have any questions about the curriculum. 🙂
We are just starting with this program and your video and posts have been so helpful and re-assuring! Thank you! You mentioned in the video about doing a second video to show the supplemental materials. Any idea when we can expect that one?
Hi Melanie!
It’s nice to hear that my video and posts have been helpful and encouraging to you! I am hoping to have a second video on supplemental materials ready in September. It’s been a little challenging shooting videos with a newborn!
Awesome! Looking forward to it. 🙂
Thank you so much for taking the time to create this calming video. I felt very overwhelmed when I first received this curriculum, but after watching this informative video I feel much more at ease. I appreciate your encouragement & relaxed pace of explaining each section & purpose of the curriculum.
Another homeschool mom:)
I truly appreciate all the great information you shared! You have answered many of my questions. I appreciate you not just skimming over it.
We are beginning our homeschooling journey this year with my dd who will be 5. SWR is my top choice for a spelling, writing, reading curriculum; however, I still have a couple of questions: Can I reasonably teach it without attending a training (I don’t know that it’s in our budget)? There seem to be only two options for first readers. How do I choose from alternative sources that correlate to what my dd will be learning (I don’t have any of the SWR materials yet so it’s hard to know what else I’ll need)?
Hi! SWR is a wonderful program but you will need to invest some time into learning how it all works before implementing it. You don’t need to attend a seminar (although they are very helpful). I’d suggest watching all the videos on the SWR YouTube channel. It’s a wealth of information!
I have a list of helpful resources (yahoo group, SWR Youtube videos etc) in this blog post: https://www.janelleknutson.com/2013/08/12/spell-to-write-and-read/
And these are a few fun activities to play while learning the phonogram sounds: Phonogram CandyLand and Fishing for Phonograms
As of right now, the lesson plans are not finished. But, keep an eye out for them! You will find them to be a great resource when it comes to the day to day teaching with SWR. Here is a link to the lesson plan website: http://swrtraining.com/swr-lesson-plans/
The readers that are offered with SWR are not needed. Once you get through several lists in SWR, you can move to having your child read from any reader! SWR will give them the tools to decode the words from most beginner readers.
hi. I am almost done using your cursive first curriculum and I am wondering if there are any other cursive books you recommend for practicing. I have just found that alot of the cursive books are new american so the letters are not formed in the same way as cursive first.
Thanks
Hi!
I am not the author of cursive first (or SWR). I just love them both and have used them with many of my children! 🙂 I think New American cursive is going to be the most similar to Cursive First. Here are 3 options that I have used over the years:
1. Continue using Cursive First for cursive practice. I just copy off the pages again and have my student work through them a second or third time
2. Do copywork. Find Bible verses, passages in literature or famous quotes and have your child copy the print version into cursive on a separate sheet of paper. Or you can write it out in cursive for them to copy.
3. Use a cursive workbook that is as similar as possible to Cursive First. You can tell your child to form the letters the way they learned instead of what is in the cursive workbook.
I have done a combination of some of these as well. Having my child copy a half sheet from Cursive First 2x a week and then having them do copywork the rest of the days. I hope those suggestions help!
Hi,
I just watched your video. I heard about SWR from my sister in-law. She has used it with all of her children. I started the phonogram cards with my preschooler (he really wants to read on his own) without knowing there was so much to this program. I just got the manuals and started digging in to see what’s next and realize I have not been doing most of what they recommend. We are almost completely through the basic alphabet cards and I’m wondering if I have to start completely over or if I can somehow keep going from where we are and just move closer to what the manual says?
Thanks
No need to start over. 🙂 Just keep moving forward and start incorporating what the teacher’s manual says as best you can. The program still works even if you don’t do it perfectly.