All Info About Reading

 Teachers, parents and homeschoolers will love this series of books from Good Apple Publishing.  Patricia Cunningham and Dorothy Hall outline a simple but effective method for teaching children basic phonics and spelling concepts.  Children of nearly any age are fascinated by the manipulative aspect and the simplicity of the activity.  Before they know it, they are successfully spelling impressive words and feeling on top of the world.  The lessons are terrific confidence-builders.  Once your class, group, or child tries one, everyone will be hooked.

All three books in this series rely on the same simple and proven teaching method.  Students are provided with a select group of letters, and asked to spell simple two or three sound words.  The teacher or parent gives specific instructions for small changes, such as “Put an S in front” or “Take away the R.”  Students rapidly make numerous words that demonstrate the targeted spelling pattern.  By the end of each lesson, even young or beginning readers are spelling long and interesting words!  All of the letters used form one large word at the end of the lesson. 

Teachers and parents will appreciate the well-planned lessons.  Each book includes numerous word lists to use with specific letter groups, instructions for creating your own lessons, and detailed theory and research information that will help you justify the programs’ use in professional settings.  There are over one hundred lessons outlined in each book, as well as the potential for creating many more on your own.

The Making Words series is a wonderful supplement to any reading or phonics program, and is useful for remedial or advanced students.  Students working at grade level will benefit from the extra practice, and many respond very well to the manipulative aspect of the program.  I highly recommend the Making Words series for all students because of its flexibility.

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