justLisa Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 (edited) I know rod and staff is obviously Christian, but how obvious is this in the spelling? I am burnt out of teaching spelling right now and I think we may use this for the rest of the year. I have just decided it is something I need to change, and I really like the format of the lessons I viewed online. Word list, fill in the blanks, seams easy. I have a natural speller but for some reason he wants spelling:confused:. I can see him just working through an entire book in his free time, strange little thing LOL. Is there much religiousness in there? I never wanted to even consider religious curriculum, but I REALLY like this. I don't even know why some subjects NEED to have scripture or what have you sprinkled about. ETA: is there anything similar but NOT religious? I am using HTTS right now but I do not have the student books because I cannot find them online to view and someone told me they do not have this format of R &S maybe that is wrong.... I'm so tired of making up worksheets and need something brainless Edited November 29, 2011 by 425lisamarie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 I know rod and staff is obviously Christian, but how obvious is this in the spelling? I am burnt out of teaching spelling right now and I think we may use this for the rest of the year. I have just decided it is something I need to change, and I really like the format of the lessons I viewed online. Word list, fill in the blanks, seams easy. I have a natural speller but for some reason he wants spelling:confused:. I can see him just working through an entire book in his free time, strange little thing LOL. Is there much religiousness in there? I never wanted to even consider religious curriculum, but I REALLY like this. I don't even know why some subjects NEED to have scripture or what have you sprinkled about. VERY. I don't see how you could get around it. Even the choice of spelling words is often Christian in content. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justLisa Posted November 29, 2011 Author Share Posted November 29, 2011 DANG! I wonder if there is anything similar that is NOT Christian? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boscopup Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 Yeah, one of the spelling words recently was "Word", capitalized, as in "the Bible is the Word of God". :) I do think the HTTS workbook would make it easier on you. Get book 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justLisa Posted November 29, 2011 Author Share Posted November 29, 2011 Thanks I'm going to get that. I tried to search samples online but come up with weird page descriptions. I wish there was something exactly like R&S without the biblical aspect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomandlorih Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 I've been looking at Soaring with Spelling (and Vocabulary) for my natural speller(who doesn't like to write alot). Kind of the same format.. list, then daily exercises. There is also Spelling Workout Building Spelling Skills(Evan-Moor) Spectrum Spelling All self starting, secular workbook types under $15. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justLisa Posted November 29, 2011 Author Share Posted November 29, 2011 I was looking at SWS too, but I am thinking a couple of the things might be annoying busy work for DS, such as unscrambling words. He has a hard time writing much, but loves spelling. The thing I like about R&S also is that it has writing AND cursive. SWS does also,but I do not thing this is based on the same rules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nansk Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 I linked to two, free, secular series of workbooks in this post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmom2011 Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 n/m Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holly Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 You might like Spelling Workout. I had it narrowed down to R&S and Spelling WO and went with R&S simply because it was cheaper. :lol: I was also looking for simple (we'd been using ETC). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerPoppy Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 I love the Sylvan books (spelling and/or vocabulary) for this purpose. They're available for grades 3, 4, and 5. I got mine at Chapters, which is like a Barnes and Noble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I linked to two, free, secular series of workbooks in this post. Thanks for this, nansk! I ended up not being able to find it via your link, but I did find it by searching for "Spelling for Writing." I don't know if this link will last, but here it is: http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/search/simpleSearch.jsp?ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=%22spelling+for+writing%22&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=ti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 What is HTTS? I too wish for a secular version of all R&S's Spelling, Math and English. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I wish there was something exactly like R&S without the biblical aspect. Spelling Workout is pretty close. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nansk Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 Thanks for this, nansk! I ended up not being able to find it via your link, but I did find it by searching for "Spelling for Writing." I don't know if this link will last, but here it is: http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/search/simpleSearch.jsp?ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=%22spelling+for+writing%22&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=ti Great! Thanks for the correct link. I will update my links so that I post the right one next time. :) The thing I like about R&S also is that it has writing AND cursive. The Spelling for Writing activity books also have cursive and there is lots of writing included. It is like public-school writing (includes Social Studies info, for instance) but it is helpful for practising the spelling words. I have attached samples from the level 5 activity book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
................... Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 Sounds to me like Soaring with Spelling would be perfect for you. Another one that is similar in format to R&S is Spelling Workout. Rod and Staff isn't that great anyway. There are only two days worth of writing lessons. Day one has a worksheet, day two a worksheet, day three a test, day four practice the missed words from the first test using ideas in TM or your own ideas, day five the final test. I am not thrilled with it and we are moving on next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 What level of R&S are you describing, Calming Tea? The ones I have seen are 6th and up. http://www.rodandstaffbooks.com/list/Rod_and_Staff_Spelling/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boscopup Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 What level of R&S are you describing, Calming Tea? The ones I have seen are 6th and up. http://www.rodandstaffbooks.com/list/Rod_and_Staff_Spelling/ It sounds like she's using the grade 2 one. I tried that last year (for 1st grade) and sold it after doing one lesson. It seemed very random and pointless. We're using the grade 3 book now, and I like it a lot better. It has 3 days of writing, and on the 3rd day you give a quiz. I just have my son write 3 times any words he misses on that quiz. I give him a day off on day 4, then on day 5 I give him a test. Working well so far. I also have the grade 4 book, which has a more involved "Part C" section than the grade 3 book does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 (edited) I vote SWS for the OP. Edited December 2, 2011 by kalanamak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 Anyone care to elaborate as to why you suggest Soaring With Spelling over Spelling Workout? from what I can tell and my son's level 5 book, it does not seem organized by spelling rule. There are no 'this is the rule' type explanations like in SWO though I do prefer the paper and the format. It reminds me of EvanMoor's Building Spelling Skills Daily Practice books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
................... Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 Boscopup is correct. Grade 2 is exactly as I described. However after her description of grade 3 I might give it another chance next year. Having even one more day of writing and more organization would do YE trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boscopup Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 However after her description of grade 3 I might give it another chance next year. Having even one more day of writing and more organization would do YE trick. The Part C in grade 3 is pretty short, basically focusing on dictionary skills, so it may have only writing 3 words or so sometimes, but grade 4 and up are much more extensive in the Part C day. You can look ahead at samples to see how things progress. At least the grade 3 words are focused on a specific pattern or rule (like short vowels, long vowels, blends, etc.). I didn't understand how the grade 2 words were organized at all. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetted4 Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 here's a list someone posted on a recent thread when someone was looking for structured, rules-based, non-religious spelling programs: http://mysite.verizon.net/jetted4/spelling.htm http://www.riggsinst.org/28rules.aspx http://www.dyslexia.org/spelling_rules.shtml http://www.splashesfromtheriver.com/...ling_rules.htm (my own program is in the list, but since it is free, I figured it would be ok to be the one to post it here). My ds8 wants me to add this: :party: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetted4 Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 Forgot to include the link to the actual WTM post... http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=326561 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 (edited) Anyone care to elaborate as to why you suggest Soaring With Spelling over Spelling Workout? from what I can tell and my son's level 5 book, it does not seem organized by spelling rule. There are no 'this is the rule' type explanations like in SWO though I do prefer the paper and the format. It reminds me of EvanMoor's Building Spelling Skills Daily Practice books. This may not be a popular answer, but I am bolstered by the round-table comments made at a forum potluck this summer: can you really teach spelling? (And the general opinion was no. I did note that memorizing the rules has helped ME, as an adult.) I have been using "the rules" since kiddo was 5. He can chant off the SWR cards, and once I start saying one, he can finish the rule, but when he is sitting down and spelling it is much more "hunch and gut feeling". I have NEVER gotten him to verbalize his thought process when he spells. For us, it has been more rote. YMMV. SWS&V is a sit down and practice important words book. The spiral top is great, and the repetition and testing is good, too. That is why I suggest it. Edited December 3, 2011 by kalanamak spelling, darn it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boscopup Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 I have been using "the rules" since kiddo was 5. He can chant off the SWR cards, and once I start saying one, he can finish the rule, but when he is sitting down and spelling it is much more "hunch and gut feeling". I have NEVER gotten him to verbalize his thought process when he spells. For us, it has been more rote. YMMV. I do wonder if this is a developmental thing. It seems that many kids aren't ready to use rules for spelling until much later. My son seems to do very well using rules to help him spell (when doing AAS, I noticed him thinking about words he was about to write and figuring out which letter to use next - outside of spelling time), BUT he's an abstract thinker, and tends to have a bit more "logic stage thinking" than the typical 2nd grader (not that he's IN the logic stage by any means, but that he's able to understand some logic stage type stuff earlier than normal). SWB mentions that you usually start to see spelling seep into the writing around age 9 or so, so I do wonder if there is a correlation there. A large part of spelling IS rote memorization. There is no rule to tell you which form of the /ay/ sound to use in a word. You have to memorize it. Phonics rules only tell you that it won't be "ee" or something silly like that. I can totally see some kids, especially young kids, doing better with a strictly memorizing program rather than a phonics based program if they're not developmentally ready to apply spelling rules. I also agree that the phonics rules have helped ME as an adult. There are some words that I would normally have trouble remembering how to spell, and now I can use my new-found phonics knowledge to spell them correctly. I don't know if that would have helped me as a child or not. I was good at memorizing as a child. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 I do wonder if this is a developmental thing. It seems that many kids aren't ready to use rules for spelling until much later. Which is why I do teach them and have learned them myself. I bring them up. I am the thousand ducks that nibble him. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boscopup Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 Which is why I do teach them and have learned them myself. I bring them up. I am the thousand ducks that nibble him. :D :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfamilygal Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 I've been looking at Soaring with Spelling (and Vocabulary) for my natural speller(who doesn't like to write alot). Kind of the same format.. list, then daily exercises. There is also Spelling Workout Building Spelling Skills(Evan-Moor) Spectrum Spelling All self starting, secular workbook types under $15. She probably doesn't like to write "alot" because she knows it's misspelled. Bwahahaha! (Back to your regular programming.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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