ASL – Learning to read through writing

“Writing is easier than reading and reading is easier if the writing is clear.”

“Encoding is easier than decoding.”

Before using this method, invented by Arne Trageton and brought by Erica Lövgren to Sweden, the students often felt frustrated when they couldn’t write the letters very well and that created problems and so they were not motivated anymore, so Erica. By writing and printing texts using the computer, students are more motivated and that creates a positive circle. When they write with the computer, the text is easier to be read and in the mean time they can listen to what they are going to write and to what they have already written.

“The inner motivation brings power and joy.”

The steps for using this method:

- “ghostwriting” (before going to school, children start with the ghostwriting. That means that they sit in front of the computer and next to the teacher telling an invented story and writing casually on the computer while the teacher is writing the text correctly);

- introduction by the teacher;

- the student plans with a classmate what they could write about;

- together they create the text on the computer;

- they write random letters while the speech synthesizer is giving support;

- they read the text to someone, send it to someone, print it, put it on the wall or create a personal book.

This method brings a high level of student activity. The students choose the words, make sentences, think about the sound, figure out the sound, choose the letter, listen to the word, read the text.

 “We don’t teach how to write the letters until they know how to use them.”

Writing by hand is so learned in about 10 hours and it could be done individually, depending on how the student is able to write and on how he/she is motivated and wants to write by hand.

Parents really agree and think positive about this method, the results are good, the students love coming to school and teachers earn time by using this method, so Erica.