Program Description
Spalding’s The Writing Road to Reading is a comprehensive literacy program designed for K-6 students. It is implemented as a whole-class literacy program, typically used daily during dedicated literacy blocks. It integrates explicit, systematic, and multi-modal instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, spelling, writing, and reading comprehension. The program follows a speech-to-print approach, helping students connect spoken language with written text through structured, diagnostic teaching methods.
A key component of the program is its professional development for teachers, equipping them with Spalding Method strategies to deliver sequential and interactive instruction. Teachers model skills, provide guided practice, and scaffold student learning, ensuring mastery of foundational literacy concepts. The program’s structured format supports differentiated instruction, making it effective for diverse learners, including struggling readers and English learners.
Program Outcomes
A quasi-experimental study evaluated the impact of Spalding’s The Writing Road to Reading on literacy achievement among K-5 students in a large Arizona school district over two academic years (2022–2024). The study compared 687 students from three Spalding schools with 1,228 students from eleven comparison schools. The matched sample was 78% Hispanic, 8% Black, and 8% Special Education (SPED), reflecting the district’s diverse student population. Results showed that students in Spalding schools consistently outperformed comparison students on multiple literacy assessments. Kindergarteners followed into 1st grade demonstrated higher gains on FastBridge earlyReading scores (effect size = +.0.21). Students tracked from grades 2-4 into grades 3-5 achieved significantly higher scores on the Arizona Academic Standards Assessment (AASA) compared to matched peers (effect size = +0.39). The observed increase in scale scores translated to 48% proficient in the Spalding group versus 29% proficient in the comparison group by Spring 2024.
These results qualify The Writing Road to Reading for a Promising Evidence for ESSA rating.
Staffing Requirements
Spalding Writing Road to Reading is implemented as a foundational literacy program by classroom teachers throughout the school. A critical component of effective implementation is designating a Spalding coordinator who oversees program fidelity, manages assessment data, and provides coaching for teachers as they master the multi-sensory instructional methods. A reading specialist, curriculum coordinator, or experienced teacher typically assumes this role. Additionally, trained classroom assistants may support small-group instruction during practice sessions.
Professional Development/Training
Professional development occurs through comprehensive in-person workshops, ongoing mentoring, reference materials, and classroom observations. Teachers require approximately 45-70 hours of formal training with certifications to begin implementation properly and move along a professional development path towards becoming a trainer. The program emphasizes creating sustainable expertise within the school by developing in-house Spalding certified trainers who can provide continued support to colleagues.
Technology
There are no specific technology requirements for implementing the Spalding Writing Road to Reading program, though the coordinator needs access to assessment tracking systems. The core instructional materials consist of printed manuals, phonogram cards, reference notebooks, and physical writing materials. While some supplementary resources are available digitally, the program’s multi-sensory approach primarily utilizes traditional classroom materials.