Reading & Spelling Through Literature

Text complexity progresses systematically from simple to more complex vocabulary as students advance through levels.

Students begin reading after learning 200 words, starting with 'Al-ice said, Come, cat. Come to din-ner' and progressing to passages like 'He was no longer gray and ugly; he was a beautiful swan, with shining feathers as white as snow!'

The curriculum facilitates direct instruction through systematic phonogram and spelling rule teaching with clear parent guidance.

Uses Orton-Gillingham methodology with systematic presentation of phonograms, explicit teaching of spelling rules, and structured dictation exercises with clear parent instructions

This is a strength of the curriculum, using rigorous Orton-Gillingham methodology with systematic phonics instruction.

Teaches 75 phonograms and 30 spelling rules systematically, with students learning all sounds for each phonogram together, and applies phonetic rules to words other programs treat as sight words

Writing instruction is limited to handwriting and spelling through dictation, lacking comprehensive composition instruction.

Students practice writing phonograms and take spelling dictation, with optional handwriting lessons and copywork books, but no evidence of structured composition or genre writing instruction

The curriculum provides some cultural knowledge through classic literature but lacks systematic domain knowledge building across subjects.

Stories include traditional content like farm life, folk tales, fables, and nature stories, but no evidence of systematic science, history, or arts knowledge building

The curriculum is designed to be parent-friendly without requiring specialized training, though this may limit instructional depth.

Author's goal is to make Orton-Gillingham methodology easy for parents to teach without training or classes, with everything contained in one book per level and brief teaching information

The curriculum includes some review elements but lacks systematic retrieval practice and spaced review strategies.

Phonograms are continually reviewed throughout the program and can be made into flashcards, but no mention of systematic retrieval practice or spaced review schedules

Vocabulary instruction appears to happen through spelling lists and reading, but lacks explicit vocabulary instruction strategies.

Uses words from the Ayres List of most commonly used words and vocabulary from Elson Readers, with 1,720 words across spelling lists, but no mention of explicit vocabulary instruction methods

The curriculum uses complete stories from classic Elson Readers, though these are traditional readers rather than contemporary whole books.

Students read complete stories from Elson Primer, Book 1, Book 2, and Book 3, featuring traditional stories, folk tales, fables, nature stories, and poetry