Spelling

I have been fairly fortunate (due to no input of my own…well, maybe some genes), in that my son ended up being a natural speller and great reader from the get-go. Due to that, I was never quite sure what to use for spelling. For the first several years it was Spelling Power and something else…then it was something totally different and Spelling Power…and on it went. I hated to spend the money for SP since I couldn’t reuse it with other children, and the years trickled by with me never quite satisfied. I finally bit the bullet and bought SP. Of course I got the book when he was 10 or 12, and wish I had gotten it at the beginning of the homeschooling journey. I have been SO pleased with it ever since…

We don't do anything with it but the tests and such in the main book. No extra work or play time, etc... He’s done fine doing it this way, but that's our experience. Your situation may warrant getting the cards and doing all the fun activities in the back of the book. Do what's good for your child—if they need more work, go for it! You also might consider just buying the book and seeing the activities in the back—that way if you really feel you need the extras that come in the program, you don't have to buy it all in one fell swoop.

Here's the link that tells you about Spelling Power. It says it's for 3rd grade through high school. I've got the third edition. The placement tests can start a child in first grade equivalency, so it truly is a 1st thru 12th grade program, in my mind. And possibly could be started earlier if you have an early reader—just make sure it's fun and don't put a lot of pressure into it. The younger the child, I'd definitely encourage doing some of the fun activities from the back of the book. I'd still suggest buying just the book (or at least make sure you get a chance to study it before buying) before buying any of the "extras"—some of those, it's just as easy using a spiral-bound notebook and doing your own "form," or make your own flash cards or whatever. Look at what the book says and see if it's easier for you to buy the extras.

When I started in with Spelling Power, I felt the teaching hints and “jump start” instructions the book had were too complicated. I did find the gist and central idea of how to use it and wrote up my own notes of what the book said. Here are those notes. It’s in the form of a Word document.

As with any other curricula choice, investigate as much as you can before buying. Handle it, read it, look for the program’s instructions on day-to-day work. What works for me or your neighbor doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll work for you! Happy Shopping!

As you read this, I’m in Lubbock, TX for the South Plains Christian Home Educators Book Fair. This event will be held on Friday, June 9th and Saturday, June 10, 2006 in the Activities Building of First Baptist Church, Lubbock. The church is located at Broadway and Avenue in Lubbock. Today, admission is free so that you can sit in on Gabe Allen of Wall Builders speaking on “America’s Godly Heritage” from 7 to 9pm. The only booth open for sales will be the Wall Builders’ one. Doors open at 6:45pm and close at 9:30pm. Saturday’s doors open at 8:45am, close at 3:00pm, and I’ll be speaking between 11:00 and 11:50am. Admission is $5 for 19 and over nonmembers, $4 per adult SPCHEA member. You can find more details on http://www.spchea.com/

I’d love to meet you! Come by and introduce yourself!

Donna Conner lives with her husband, Glenn, their son, Mike, and their beloved dog, Lucia, and calls Fort Worth, Texas home. Donna and Glenn have been homeschooling their son since the beginning of his education. Mike completes his homeschooling within the next two years. Donna is an artist and has always enjoyed writing. She wrote Homeschooling Only One three years ago, after discovering that there were many other families homeschooling only one child. Her website is devoted to those with only one student in their homeschool, with listings of online resources. You can visit her website at http://donnac.com and read her blog at http://homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaC

copyright © 2006 Donna Conner
All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of author, except in the case of brief passages embodied in critical reviews and articles where the title and author are listed.