The publisher recommends that older students learn all phonograms before beginning this Book 2. Brief program introductory notes are written to you as teacher; familiarize yourself with these prior to starting this level. This Book 2 begins with verb tenses, diphthongs, irregular and proper nouns, consonant division, and silent e. Then, by the end of this level, students are learning various suffix rules, -es, compound words, and more. Students practice and learn concepts using the included Elson Reader Book 2. Within these stories, diacritical marks cue pronunciation and multiple syllables are separated with a dot. Stories include fairy tales from multiple countries, traditional favorites, and fables. Selections will often span multiple pages and will sometimes have “chapters.” Then, the back of this text includes phonogram flashcards to assist students in reviewing the 75 phonograms. Font print for student material is approximately 14-pt. Copyright 2024. 422+ pgs, pb. ~ Ruth
Reading Lessons Through Literature is an Orton phonogram reading program, and like other Orton phonogram programs, it focuses on teaching reading through spelling, which makes it ideal for teaching either reading or spelling. This may sound odd if you’re not familiar with the process. Think of it like this: Other reading programs present new words to read in each lesson. With RLTL, children are not only presented new words to read, they also learn to write them down and analyze their spelling.
First children learn the basic phonograms; Reading Lessons Through Literature teaches 75 basic phonograms. After children have learned the first 26 phonograms (the letters of the alphabet), they begin writing spelling words, analyzing them, and reading them for practice. And finally, they begin to read stories which include the words they’ve learned.
If you are looking for an intensive phonics approach to reading that’s easy to implement and won’t consume your entire homeschooling budget, Reading & Spelling Through Literature is a good place to look. This is a pick-up-and-go, strong, phonics-based program. The focus is on the beginning reader and includes lists of spelling words and stories to read.
The program takes an Orton-Gillingham approach to teaching: first the phonograms, then spelling, then reading. If you know much about any of the Orton-Gillingham programs, you know that they can be expensive, complicated to use and time consuming to learn. Not so with Reading & Spelling Through Literature. You must take a bit of time to read through the brief introductory material (fifteen pages) and it may take a little time to become comfortable with the process, but after that the program really is pick-up-and-go.
If you add the author’s corresponding grammar program, English Lessons Through Literature, you will have a complete language arts program. The Text (program book) for each level is the one necessary component, although you will most likely want a composition book for each student.
Note: Book 4 has not yet transitioned from Reading Lessons Through Literature. This text will eventually become the new Book 3.
I’ve used levels one and two and love them.