Teachers Making a Difference Issue 5: December 2022 Wrapping It Up

By Elaine Clanton Harpine, Ph. D.

What is Vowel Clustering?

Vowel clustering is a teaching method that works with struggling or failing students—all ages. Vowel clustering even works with special need students or students learning English as a second language. Vowel clustering teaches words by sounds rather than by rules. Vowel clustering directly connects letters and sounds—no pictures. Students learn to identify letter sounds by matching letters to sounds or sound clusters.

With vowel clustering, there are no rules to memorize, and students are never allowed to guess at a word. Vowel clustering teaches spelling, handwriting, oral reading fluency, comprehension, and story writing. Vowel clustering has been tested and proven to work with struggling, at-risk, and failing students for over 20 years. One student, who failed for nine years, learned to read in 3 ½ years using vowel clustering. I have even had struggling students move up four grade levels in one year using vowel clustering. These were students who had

failed multiple years in schools that taught whole language, balanced literacy, and phonics.

You might be asking, is there proof that vowel clustering works? Yes, my research is published, but let me share a few success stories:

•A student diagnosed with ADHD and failing in reading moved up two grade levels in one year.

•A student diagnosed with dyslexia and whose parents tried everything, including expensive private one-on-one tutoring in phonics, learned to read, and moved up to beginning chapter books in one year.

•Six children who entered the program reading at the (pre-K) level ended the year reading at the 2nd grade reading level. Only one child in the group was a first grader.

◘•One student started at the pre-K level and ended the year reading at the third-grade level, while a second grader started the year reading below first grade and ended at the fourth-grade level.

•One student moved up four grade levels in reading, four students moved up three grade levels in reading, and eight students moved up two grade levels in reading. Christmas Project

Christmas project. Vowel clustering methods also help students who are struggling with comprehension. Children (even 4-year-olds) can make a candle. Children read and follow stepby-step directions to string the beads and make a candle.

Following step-by-step directions is one of the best ways to build comprehension skills. My Christment books provide step-by-step directions, patterns, and pictures.

Yes, you actually help students learn to comprehend what they are reading when they apply what they read to a hands-on project.

If you have questions, I am always happy to help. For links to my published research on vowel clustering or for the candle project, go to: https:// www.groupcentered.com/reading-blog

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