Why Do Parents Think thinkSRSD Pairs Well With EBLI?

“ThinkSRSD pairs well with EBLI.” If you’ve spent time in EBLI Facebook groups, you’ve probably seen this phrase — maybe more than once. But why do so many people say that?

After “finishing” EBLI or seeing progress in reading, parents notice their child still struggles with spelling. The advice they often hear?

“Have them write — spelling gets stronger through writing!”

But writing more than a sentence is hard. Most kids freeze. Let’s be honest — a lot of adults do too. (I’ve been doing this for years, and I still feel that way sometimes!)

If you’re a parent staring at your child’s blank page, wondering how on earth to teach writing — maybe even starting to panic — you’re in the right place.

Enter thinkSRSD: a structured writing method that parents often hear about as a next step after EBLI. But is it really a good fit? Let’s explore.

What Parents Are Hearing in Facebook Groups

Many parents first hear about thinkSRSD in EBLI-aligned Facebook groups, especially the popular EBLI Community group. 

These communities are filled with trusted advice and real success stories, so when one parent mentions that thinkSRSD worked for them, others want to know more.

Common Scenarios That Lead to ThinkSRSD

Here are some of the most common situations where thinkSRSD enters the conversation:

• The student has “finished” EBLI either by doing all 140 activities or by becoming fluent and accurate in reading and their parent or tutor wants to know: what’s next for writing.
  
• The parent is homeschooling and searching for a writing curriculum to extend what EBLI started.
  
• The parent notices their child still struggles with spelling even though their reading has improved and has heard that the best way to improve spelling is through the child’s own writing. 

For many families, this is the first time they’ve heard about thinkSRSD — and they want to know what it is and how to use it.

💡 One thing I always clarify early on:
thinkSRSD is a method — not a full curriculum.
Just like EBLI, it’s an approach. EBLI is simply a way to sound out unknown words to become an accurate reader and better speller. You can use it for anything you read. 

thinkSRSD is simply a method to learn the steps of the writing process and tools to make it easier. You still need to find things to write about and to create prompts.

Why thinkSRSD Feels Like a Natural Fit After EBLI

thinkSRSD feels like the natural next step after EBLI — and there’s a good reason for that.

Writing composition is a higher-level cognitive task. Before a child can plan and write full paragraphs, they need strong foundations in handwriting, spelling, and reading fluency — exactly the skills that EBLI builds.

It’s also a natural fit because EBLI doesn’t just teach reading — it includes foundational writing practice, too. Students write single sentences, summaries, and short responses — which makes it a perfect lead-in to structured writing using prompts and text evidence.

So it’s no surprise that parents say thinkSRSD pairs well with EBLI — the two approaches overlap in style and build on one another.

Both Are Explicit and Direct

EBLI begins with direct instruction in three core concepts about the English language. These foundational concepts are then applied repeatedly through skills like blending and segmenting, giving students a consistent structure they can rely on.

thinkSRSD also relies on explicit instruction — but in a different way. It teaches students how to use specific strategies for self-regulation (like goal-setting, self-monitoring, and self-talk) and provides concrete tools to organize their writing.

Both approaches use step-by-step guidance to reduce overwhelm and build confidence. As Leslie Laud, founder of thinkSRSD said in this video “thinkSRSD cuts out the noise”. The same can be said about EBLI.

There’s also very little “discovery learning” at first — instead, both follow a gradual release model: I do, we do, you do.

Both Emphasize Collaboration Before Independence

One of the biggest reasons people say thinkSRSD pairs well with EBLI is that both methods emphasize doing it together before asking the child to do it alone.

They follow a similar teaching rhythm:

• EBLI: teacher-led → supported → independent
  
• thinkSRSD: exemplars → collaborative writing → independent writing

This gradual release approach makes a huge difference for struggling writers and readers. It removes pressure and creates a supportive environment where kids feel safe trying — and learning from mistakes.

In EBLI, the teacher leads the student through the process of reading and spelling with clear modeling. Over time, the student takes more responsibility until they can do the task on their own with confidence.

In thinkSRSD, the teacher models each writing step — like reading the prompt, generating a gist, planning, or writing a topic sentence — often out loud and with student input. Then the teacher and student complete tasks together before shifting into independent work.

In my own tutoring, I’ve seen how powerful this gradual release is — especially for kids who feel anxious about writing. When we plan together first, they stop freezing at the sight of the page.

Both Use a “Gist” Step

In EBLI, every time a student reads a text, they’re asked to write a summary sentence of 10 words or fewer. This isn’t just a fun challenge — it’s designed to make sure they truly understand what the text is about.

To help students craft these summary sentences, I guide them through the journalist questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? Then we combine those ideas into one focused statement. 

In EBLI, that’s usually where the writing ends — but in thinkSRSD, it’s just the beginning.

In fact, writing a gist sentence is one of the first steps in the thinkSRSD planning process. Students “pre-read for the gist” before they start outlining their response. That gist might even become the first sentence of their topic introduction — or it might simply be a way to confirm they understood the reading.

Either way, students who move from EBLI into structured writing with thinkSRSD are already very comfortable summarizing. It’s a natural transition.

And here’s the best part: once a tutor or parent learns how to teach thinkSRSD, they can use its tools to extend EBLI writing without going through an entire thinkSRSD writing cycle. 

Just by prompting a student to add evidence, details, and a conclusion, that 10-word summary can grow into a strong, structured paragraph.

Both Are Methods, Not Curricula

As I mentioned earlier, both EBLI and thinkSRSD are methods — not packaged curricula.

• EBLI is a method for teaching students to decode and encode words so they become accurate, fluent readers and spellers.
  
• thinkSRSD is a method students can use to plan, organize, and write structured paragraphs (and eventually, full essays).

Because they’re methods, they don’t come with a full stack of worksheets or a scripted teacher’s guide. That can surprise parents — especially homeschoolers — who are expecting a ready-to-go curriculum.

But this is also what makes both approaches incredibly flexible.

You can use EBLI or thinkSRSD with any curriculum, book, article, or text you’re already working with. They’re tools, not boxes — and that means you can adapt them to fit your child’s goals and needs.

That said, this flexibility can also feel a little overwhelming. You’ll need to choose the texts, create the prompts, and guide your child through the process — which is doable, but takes time.

🔨That’s exactly why I’m working on writing tools and resources to help bridge that gap.

What I Do in My Tutoring

When parents reach out for tutoring, we always start with a free assessment. This includes:

• Word reading
• Passage reading
• Handwriting
• Phonemic awareness
• Spelling
• A written response to a prompt

From this data — along with a conversation with the student and their parents — I can usually tell whether we should begin with EBLI, or if the child is ready to move directly into thinkSRSD.

Because both EBLI and thinkSRSD support writing, I can quickly determine what kind of writing support the child needs:

➤ Is it handwriting and spelling?
➤ Or is it structured paragraph writing?

If you’re not sure what you mean when you say “my child needs help in writing,” I recommend starting with this post — it breaks down the different types of writing support by age and need.

Having both of these methods in my toolkit means I can meet each child where they are — and help them move forward with confidence.

✍️For families who want to support writing progress at home between sessions, I also offer a simple tool: the Spelling & Writing Tracker.

It helps you (and your child) notice what’s improving, what still needs support, and how their writing is evolving over time — whether you’re working on spelling, structure, or both.

So Does ThinkSRSD Fit Well With EBLI?

Yes — absolutely.

EBLI and thinkSRSD work very well together, though the way you combine them may look different depending on the setting.

In homeschool or classroom environments, there’s more time and flexibility. You might use EBLI to build decoding, fluency, and spelling — while also using thinkSRSD to guide structured writing around content-area reading.

In tutoring, the flow is usually more sequential:
First, we build up transcription skills like handwriting and spelling using EBLI. Once those foundational skills are in place, we move into structured writing using thinkSRSD.

The methods are compatible — but the pacing depends on your child’s needs and the setting you’re in.

Writing Is Never Done

Making writing the focus of your child’s literacy development is one of the smartest moves you can make.

Writing pulls everything together — reading, spelling, vocabulary, and critical thinking. It’s how we clarify what we know, deepen our understanding, and learn to communicate clearly. When kids set goals and reflect through writing, everything improves.

Writing isn’t a one-and-done skill. It’s the sum of all the cognitive processes — and it keeps growing as your child grows.

Not sure if your child is ready for structured writing like thinkSRSD? Reach out here — I’d love to help you figure out the next step.

And keep an eye out — I’ll be sharing more soon about how thinkSRSD can work in tutoring.

Read More Of My Tips And Thoughts On Spelling and Writing:

• Child Struggling With Spelling: How A Parent Can Help
• What Do Parents Mean By “My Child Needs Help In Writing”?