Lower School Adopts The Writing Road to Reading

After last year's experience with an accelerated phonics curriculum in Kindergarten, HFA announced plans to switch from the current reading curriculum to Spalding's The Writing Road to Reading. Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Anne Wesely and first grade teacher Mrs. Diane Evander spent the better part of the summer training and preparing for the implementation of a program that is more in line with the phonemic awareness principles set forth by the Orton Gillingham method of instruction. Combined with the classical curriculum of consistent exposure to great history, great poetry, and great books, this transition will prepare Holy Family Academy students for the rigorous reading requirements of a the classical trivuum, especially the 1000 Good Books program promoted by our teachers. The great thing about Orton Gillingham phonics is that it is just what is needed for all levels of learners, especially those who are inherently challenged phonemically.

Second grade will transition to The Writing Road to Reading at the start of the 2018 - 2019 school year.