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"This is a
spelling universe," writes the foundation about the website,
built on a database of 95,000 words and offering personalized
learning session for members of varying skill levels and goals.
Students
age 7 and up, English language learners, spelling bee hopefuls
and those looking to gain more confidence with English spelling
conventions all receive tutoring based on what they know and
what they need to practice.
"When our
schools stepped away from rote, authoritarian learning styles,"
says Rosevita Warda, president and founder of eSpindle Learning,
"the old ways of learning new words were abandoned without
creating new, effective forms of spelling education. Spelling
word lists require painstaking efforts by students, parents and
teachers, yet the fact that learning how to spell was always
burdensome does not mean that we can just forego the process –
only that we need to advance to a smarter, more focused way of
getting the necessary results."
Many
studies have documented the link between a broad vocabulary and
professional, financial, even interpersonal success. However,
reading and writing skills – which, as research shows, both
depend on a confident command of a large vocabulary – have been
on a continuous decline, and the literacy gap in the nation is
widening. "Literacy can be thought of as a currency in our
society," states the National Assessment of Adult Literacy.
Americans of low language skills are more likely to be
unemployed, live in poverty, or become incarcerated. They are
much less likely to vote or become actively involved in their
communities. Those with remedial verbal skills often have
difficulty organizing and expressing complex thoughts, and lose
their voice in society.
While some
lament the declining skills of the nation's students, others
hope spell checkers and elaborate phonics programs will solve
the problem. To say, however, that that spellcheckers have made
study unnecessary is similar in its logic to stating that
obesity is not a problem, since cars can transport us, even if
our bodies can't - a statement not likely to be advocated.
Surveys
comparing trends in the evaluation of resumes by Fortune 500
companies showed that in recent years more emphasis was placed
on grammar and spelling. A candidate's spelling skills had a
larger impact than even their grade average or previous work
experience. Mastery in this area is more than ever taken as an
indicator of a superior education, a hard-working character and
intelligence, while those without such skills are stigmatized.
Partly in response to this, the new SAT now includes a
hand-written component.
It is
estimated that 13% of the English language is irregular in
nature. While teaching phonics and the spelling rules underlying
our language are great ways to get started, there is always a
substantial amount of memory-based learning required to make a
good speller. "As a parent and someone who had to learn English
as a foreign language, I was looking for a program that would
effectively teach the writing, sound and meaning of words in
easy, personalized sessions," says Warda. "I was surprised that
I could not find anything that seemed comprehensive, effective,
or sufficient by any standards."
After
noticing how many parents, teachers and students shared her
aggravation with the task, Warda founded eSpindle Learning in
early 2004.
With the
support from technology providers and a broad team of editors,
teachers and writers
www.eSpindle.org has grown into the largest, most versatile
English vocabulary and spelling tutoring program available
today.
Being a
web-based program allows members to benefit from a program that
would require 18 installation CDs.
True to
its non-profit mission, every new membership is matched by
eSpindle Learning with a scholarship for a disadvantaged
student. eSpindle Learning also actively solicits partnerships
with schools, non-profits and corporate partners.
Annual
membership is $99.80, or $79.80 if paid via PayPal.
A monthly
payment plan is offered at $7.98.
For more
information, please contact
Rosevita
Warda, President
866.eSpindle (866.377.4635)
rose@eSpindle.org
POB 338,
Sebastopol, CA. 95472
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