POLL: Spelling

[mommy25]

Looking at different spelling programs. Which ones have worked for you?

[Beth in Central TX]

I use Rod & Staff spelling from 2nd grade to 8th grade.

[Lori D.]

For average speller son:

- Did NOT work: Spelling Workout; Spelling Power

- DID work: make our own spelling, using ABCs and All Their Tricks

 

 

For struggling speller son:

- Did NOT work: Spelling Workout; Spelling Power; Sonlight 1 & 2; Sequential Spelling -- tried it when he was too young)

- DID work: Stevenson Blue Spelling Manual (for very visual explanation of vowel patterns/sounds)

- DOES work:

1. Megawords

2. individualized spelling (using ABCs and All Their Tricks, Natural Speller)

3. specific practice techniques (daily oral/out loud practice; 2x/week roots/endings and homophone practice on whiteboard; 1-2x/ week dictation practice)

[Mapi]

I use R&S spelling for third grade. I honestly believe spelling is best learned incidentally rather than in formal teaching. Not always. But my dd is an ok speller so I figure I won't stress her out too much and she will learn as we read and write. At this stage she loves her spelling tests/lists because she is not overwhelmed. Sequential spelling looks appealing to me and I may try it after the current curriculum.

[Vanna]

Before the days of internet in this house we used Spelling Workout. I liked how it combines spelling with human interest stories (it was good practice for standardized testing).

 

Oldest child is an excellent speller and never had trouble with the subject.

 

Decided I needed something more streamlined now that I'm homeschooling 3 so we found Spellingcity.com. You can make your own lists or use one of theirs. There are games and a "teach me" function that my children appreciate.

[Heather in Neverland]

I do copywork until 4th grade then use Phonetic Zoo.

[Quiver0f10]

Spell to Write and Read has worked the best for us.

[homeschoolmomtutu]

We use/used Spelling Workout (4 yrs +)...but with my younger one I am testing a changeover to phonetic zoo...we shall see:)

[Wendy in ME]

We started with Simply Spelling this year after no spelling success the past 2 years. We are up to week 12 and so far so good.

[LisaKinVA]

Abeka (especially in the younger grades) has always been a great fit for our family. I love that it introduces the spelling rules, and reinforces the special sounds of the phonics program, and that it's a work book program. Personally, if I had learned to spell this way spelling woud NOT have been such a horrible experience for me (the rules and sounds works best for me, versus word families)

[LizzyBee]

Calvert Spelling works great for my natural speller. But it's real value for us was with my mildly dyslexic 12 yo. I had begun to think this kid would be one of those people who never learns to spell, but Calvert worked like a magic pill for her after several other programs flopped (SWO, SWR, dictation, visual methods described in Right Brained Children in a Left Brained World).

 

ETA: We use the old spelling CD's. I haven't used the new ones, so I don't know what the differences are or whether the new program would have been effective with my struggling speller.

Edited December 7, 2008 by LizzyBee

[siloam]

Spell to Write and Read has worked the best for us.

 

That is what we are using as well.

 

Heather

 

[King Alfred Academy]

Switched from spelling workout to all about spelling last year. It was a great decision for us. We love AAS! Oh, and I supplement with spellingcity.com.

[inashoe]

we use Phonetic Zoo from IEW. my eldest has a hard time with spelling. this is the first program I have tried that is making a difference. I have ditched many other programs. my next two kiddos are natural spellers and would have done fine with any program.

[Jane]

:) Another happy Calvert Spelling CD user.

[lovetobehome]

We have been loving AVKO Sequential Spelling! It is simple and it works!

[cillakat]

I honestly believe spelling is best learned incidentally rather than in formal teaching. Not always.

 

For natural spellers maybe. Not for struggling spellers. They need seqeuntial systematic incremental and often multisensory spelling that includes the rules......fe, AAS or another O-G program

 

 

:)

k

[Jen the RD]

I love, love, love this book! For me, this has been terrific. It remediated my dd's spelling bringing it up 2 grade levels. For my 6 yo ds, I've used it to teach him to read, write, and spell. His reading and spelling is leaps above where my dd's was at the same age.

[Lovedtodeath]

How to teach spelling with the How to spell workbooks. The price works well for me too! Half.com and paperbackswap, less than $25 for half the 1-12 program.

[Aloha2U]

I voted for other... I already see benefits from using SWR w/my ds4.

[Mapi]

For natural spellers maybe. Not for struggling spellers. They need seqeuntial systematic incremental and often multisensory spelling that includes the rules......fe, AAS or another O-G program

 

 

:)

k

 

I absolutely agree with you. Sorry if my statement was not as clear as it should have been.

[FriedClams]

Rod and Staff

[Lisa in the UP of MI]

I just started AAS with dd (4yo) a few weeks ago and we love it. She's one of those kids who would rather spell than read.

[Melissa in Australia]

we use spelling work out. we have tried lots of spelling programs. we are hopeless spellers, and no program works for us.

[Daisy]

We use Rod and Staff also.

[dhudson]

Rod and Staff and Abeka have worked for us.

[Deb in NZ]

Spelling Power

Spectrum Spelling

Schonell Spelling (a NZ program)

& Sequential Spelling

 

Of all of the above, only Sequential Spelling has shown significant inprovement in my dc's spelling. I use Sequential Spelling for Adults with my 16yod & Sequential Spelling with my 2ds. Ds#2 does enjoy dictations as well, but I still use SS as well. It only takes 5-10 minutes each daily & is non-consumable. SS gives both British & American spellings for words that differ, a big plus for my dc living here in NZ.

 

JMHO,

[Tree House Academy]

Spelling Power and the Calvert Mastery Series Spelling CD have worked great for us.

[Jenn Robinson]

We do spelling from dictation (McGuffey Readers) and use ABCs and all Their Tricks to learn rules for missed words. When/If we start more "formal" spelling with tests and lists we'll probably use Rod & Staff.

[Matryoshka]

The main program I use is Sequential Spelling, which is wonderful. We use it starting in 2nd grade.

 

Tweaks: for my natural speller, SS just got too easy - I would've just dropped spelling for her, but she wanted something because it makes her feel good about herself to have schoolwork she knows she's good at. She's using Spelling Wisdom now.

 

For her twin sister who used to be a spelling disaster, SS is perfect. She improved a ton with SS in a short time, and we're still happily using it without needing any more or less.

 

For my youngest, SS has been very good but I was still seeing many errors in her writing outside of spelling lessons (though she could frequently spell the word for me if I pointed out it was wrong). For her I've added copywork and dictation with WWE to help spelling in context, and continue with SS to teach patterns/rules.

[Arch at Home]

Calvert Spelling CD is working for my dd who has great difficulty spelling.

[TracyR]

We use Everyday Spelling ( Calvert's spelling) but not the CD. My girls have never seemed to like their CD's. I use that along with Spell City.com and games.

[laughing lioness]

Sequential Spelling was what finally got my very bright but spelling disabled ds 14 to finally gain mastery in spelling. Two thumbs way up.

[PollyOR]

voracious reader/poor speller - Phonetic Zoo

 

struggling reader/natural speller - Rod & Staff

[JenniferB]

Spell to Write and Read (SWR) and I'm about to add Noah Webster's American Spelling Book of 1824 (teaches spelling by syllable). Print it for free from here: http://www.donpotter.net/Spelling%20Books.htm. So, I'm using a phonics program and now a syllable program, and I'm hoping to improve my struggling daughter's spelling! :tongue_smilie:

[...................]

We are using Love to Learn's Journal and Spelling program and it's actually working. My son is getting all his words, and has retention.

[mamaof2andtwins]

I have used so many programs for spelling. I have two struggling spellers and two more natural spellers.

 

What didn't work for the struggling spellers: Sequential Spelling (no ability to transfer learning into real writing), R&S spelling (had to drop back several grade levels to find lists he could spell), and BJU spelling (same issue with the lists).

 

What did work for the struggling spellers: Spelling Power (somewhat, but not enough for me to continue with it), copywork and dictation (spelling score on standardized test jumped from "low" to "average") and AAS (my oldest did not use this but my young struggler is using this and it is working well).

 

My more natural speller (the younger one) does fine with AAS, so my opinion is that it is good for all spelling types. My older natural speller isn't using anything right now, but she would be fine with any program.

 

Jennie

[Paisley Hedgehog]

nm

[Michelle T]

nt

Michelle T

[lovemywhirlygirls]

Rod & Staff 5th grade and 3rd grade is working very well for us!

[Jennefer@SSA]

Spelling Wisdom has been a hit here. Ds7 is very visual and has a strong background and understanding of phonics. I wanted something that would work to those strengths. SW has been perfect for us and the bonus is that is gives us great things to talk about as we work through the quotes!

[Catherine]

I can't say enough good things about AAS. My 7 you couldn't spell "you" after endless practicing last year-now, he *understands* and spells from that understanding.

[caryn]

I am using Barton reading and Spelling. It is a good fit for us.

 

 

Caryn

[Ellie]

Spelling by Sound and Structure (Rod and Staff) sdecond.