Customer Reviews

SPELLING WORKOUT LEVEL C PUPIL EDITION

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

4 1/2 stars! We homeschool and call this phonics, the best way to learn how to spell. Here's a layout of a typical lesson. 1st page, short interesting article, poetry, story (stress interesting for kids) using the many of the words, great of word definitions within context. Pre-test time (teacher's edition has sentences listed). 2nd page lists words (print and cursive), a "pep talk" discussing the phonics rules (love it!), assignment to group words according to the rules. 3rd page 2-3 assignments, usually one good for practicing rules more, others more busy work like (usually skip these for lack of time). 4th page writing assignment (skip this too), proofreading assignment checking for spelling AND good writing (punctuation, capitalization... a teacher's favorite!) and then post-test. Appealing for kids with illustrations and layout user friendly. The only reason I don't give 5 stars is the busy work could be a bit more creative.

This curriculum is so much better than the typical mind-numbing, void of logic, drill, drill and drill endless lists of words. I have my 1st grader doing level A and we're flying through it! Even better the print is appropriate for a novice handwriter practicing penmanship.

Here's a great tip from the Charlotte Mason group: during the pre-test watch closely. Don't let your child finish a mispelled word (training their eyes wrong!). Correct it immediately and have them write is 2 more times before moving on. This has done wonders for my daughter!

UPDATE... 4/2010
Well it's been a while since I wrote this. I have dropped this curriculum. It "felt" good, but alas, the results are poor too. I'm looking for a new one that feels more applicable. Hope I haven't guided too many people poorly.

This is the best spelling workbook I have found for my 2nd grader, who is homeschooled. This series of workbooks ties spelling to phonics rules and has activities (like crossword puzzles) that my daughter loves. There is a dictionary in the back of each workbook that includes all of the spelling words. I have tried 3 other spelling workbooks and this is by far the best for us.

Spelling Workout is a great tool for the homeschooled student. I have seen a dramatic improvement in my child's spelling since they have started using this program.

I used this workbook level C for both my average in spelling 4th grader and above average in spelling 3rd grader. The children commented many times about how simple the words were. In fact they were much to simple! This would be a good workbook if you are looking to give your child "busy work". However, unless your child is really having a hard time with spelling you don't want this! The word list are below grade level! It was a waste of time and money. Even on the last lesson list words are much to simple. They are words like hear, your, to, our, great...etc

This workbook is just as good as the others in the series. I am happy with the series and think the suggestions for spelling word memorization at the begining of the book are very useful.

I have been using the Spelling Workout series for over 8 years in my homeschooling. I believe that I learned about Spelling Workout from "The Well-Trained Mind", by Susan Wise BauerThe Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home (Third Edition). I love that my students learn editing and proofreading marks as well as how the spelling words are used in sentences and puzzles. They learn that they can proofread their own work. I love the gradual addition of cursive to the options and the valuable spelling "hints".

If the students memorize all of the "hot tips" or "hints" or "pep talks", as they call it in the older books, they will be able to handle almost every spelling issue. The more advanced books even teach Latin roots and how to handle foreign based words like "bureau". I needed a curriculum that teaches spelling by building upon basics and this does it. I also have my kids use "Easy Grammar", which is easier when they can spell!

I've used Spelling Workout Level C with both my homeschooled sons. It is simple enough to be used relatively independently. My children are strong readers, and have thrived on the easy format and moved at their own pace to complete each book in the series.

Each of 36 chapters consists of a reading text containing 15-20 selected list words, the spelling rule theme of the chapter, three exercises (one more straightforward, the other two usually puzzles or word games), a proofreading exercise, a short writing prompt, and a list of bonus words. Every fifth chapter is straight review.

Any parent or teacher should place thier child appropriately in the series, so for your information some of the words from each list in Level C include:
Chapter 1 (on syllabication): fast, life, cannot, water, person, quite, forest
Chapter 15 (on ch & wh): wheel, everywhere, chewy, whisper, bench, whether, pinch
Chapter 25 (er, ing, ed): swimmer, cutting, slipped, admitted, beginning, skimmed, shipped
Chapter 35 (homonyms): here, hear, pare, pair, pear, great, grate, tied, tide

My kids enjoy the puzzle exercises, and I particularly like the proofreading practice, which is excellent preparation for editing papers. Our approach is simple: We read the selection together, discuss the rule or topic, then I give a spelling pre-test. My children do a number of exercises based on the number of words they get incorrect. We follow up with a post-test if needed, and move on to the next chapter. Easy.

I don't think Spelling Workout would be the best selection for a struggling or poor speller, as review is somewhat limited, but for an average to accelerated child it is an excellent, easy to use resource.

The workbook is good--4 stars--but I bought this used via New Chapter Recycling (one of the Amazon-approved vendors listed for this product) and they had listed it as "Like New." However, this used book was MISSING (torn out) 51 (of 192) pages, and another 5 had been written in/completed by a prior child, for a grand total of 56 of the 192 pages (29% of the book)!!! How they could claim it was "Like New" is beyond me, and I'll be sure NOT to buy from NEW CHAPTER RECYCLING again! (I don't know how to leave negative feedback at their storefront, but wanted to warn others, so had to do so here.)

Otherwise, the book itself was fun for my 3rd grader--short stories with spelling lists included so that she gets spelling, vocab, and reading comprehension all in one text! It may not be a sole curriculum, but you could use it as a supplement when your child gets bored with straight spelling list memorization.

This is a great no nonsense spelling workbook. I think it would be appropriate for grade 3 or 4. My son likes solving the puzzles and editing paragraphs activities that are part of each lessons. 15 words per lesson. Highly recommended.

I like the Spelling Workout series, but I found that both my first and second graders went through it in a couple of months. So, it gets costly to maintain a spelling curriculum throughout the year. Not too sure how effective these workbooks are...