In phonics, language is broken down for students into its essential parts.  For example, the average phonics program teaches the 26 letters of the alphabet, and then guides students promptly to blend and sound out “CVC” words (“consonant, short vowel, consonant,” e.g. “cat”).  This moves students quickly into “Cat in the Hat” – type books.

 

While this is logical and effective, Spalding goes further by more intensively emphasizing phoneme knowledge before decoding is addressed.  Rather than teaching the sounds of the 26 letters and moving directly to CVCs, Spalding teaches 70 phonograms through flash cards and verbal response before reading begins.  When students rattle off the seemingly nonsensical “Oh, ooo, uff, off, aw, ow,” they are memorizing the 6 uses of “ough” as in though, through, enough, cough, thought, and drought.

 

While easy for students to experience, the training necessary to utilize the Spalding Method as an instructor is rather complex.  Mrs. Heather Molder, the Academy’s Spalding coordinator, first trained during a weeklong summer seminar at Great Hearts Academies.  She furthered her skills during close instruction with an expert who worked directly under Romalda Spalding, the method’s pioneer.  

 

Mrs. Molder instructs and refreshes JH Classical teachers on the Spalding approach to phonics, spelling, and handwriting.  Throughout the year, she performs demonstrations in classrooms and reviews videos taken of other elementary teachers to maintain consistent standards across all grade levels.

 

Mrs. Molder is a strong believer in the Spalding Method.  “The key reason it is so effective is that the method explains why words are pronounced and spelled the way they are,” she says.  “It gives a logical view of the English language to young students who are still learning how to better read, write, and spell.”

 

The integration of the Spalding Method into JH Classical’s curriculum combines the mechanics and systems of the language with the beauty of the literature and stories.  Applying the method in the classroom flawlessly melds the fundamentals of grammar and writing with stories and discussion.

 

In addition to The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, 1^st through 4^th Language Arts students read books such as The Little Prince, Aesop’s Fables, and The Hobbit.  The fundamentals that students receive in the mechanics of phonics make them fluid readers with excellent comprehension.  The technical side of language improves their ability to glean the wisdom from beautiful stories.

 

JH Classical is already seeing great results.  Mrs. Molder says, “When new students enter the school, their spelling quickly improves as they learn the phonograms and the purpose behind spelling.  All our students see a dramatic improvement in their handwriting as they become more deliberate about what they write.  As with all our efforts here, we are working to set a firm foundation for a student’s entire educational future.”