Customer Reviews

Spelling Power 3rd Edition

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

We used this book during the 1998-99 school year for spelling advancement of our three children, 2nd-8th grade. The book is comprehensive in its content and excellent in structure (it directs to areas needing more intensive study). Downfall would be that the parent (or savvy person) needs to be with the student 10 minutes each session - and at the same time, a great benefit is that the parent or savvy person needs to be with the student 10 minutes each session!! Our children each loved this time when they alone had my full attention. Spelling never was a "groan" issue after getting this program. It's well worth the cost, as it takes us through high school.

My 7 year old groaned every time we mentioned spelling. She had low confidence in her spelling ability. The first day we started this program--WHAM-- what a difference! She saw that she could spell! She loves the 10 step study pages. Also, she likes that you only have to study the words she missed and not 10 to 20 words a day for a test at the end of the week. In this program, you take daily tests lasting just 5 minutes. Then the missed spelled words are repeated the next day.

I'm looking now for the activity cards. This program is wonderful for homeschoolers and anyone wanting to improve their childs spelling ability.

The author of the book recommends this for grades 3 to 12, but used it with her 5 year old granddaughter. We are using it with our 7 year old who is an advanced reader. Also this 10 step word study helps her with independent learning. She focuses better with steps.

They have their own website if you want more info. Just type Spelling Power into your search engine.

My now fourth grader was using another spelling program in 1st grade and got really burned out. It was the traditional study the list all week, write the words, pre-test on Thursday and test on Friday. She and I both hated it! Since we switched to Spelling Power, she asks "Can I do my spelling first?" Everyday, you test them over a designated list of words. When they have spelled 3 wrong, you stop. They study the words they missed using a 10 point study program (all lined out in the record book they use). The next day, they first re-test on the words they missed, and then go on to the next set of words on the designated list. The placement tests show you exactly where to start and where your child is according to grade level. Although it is designed to use starting with 8 and up, I am using it with my 6 year old, too. She was jealous of her sister getting to do this spelling. She does great! We just move slower. The teaching of study skills is powerful! Get this program! Don't be overwhelmed with the text. Take the time to read it before you ever start. On a daily basis, no preparation is required. Annually, you give placement tests. That's it!

Although the program is designed for ages 8+, I bought it for my homeschooled 5 year old who has been reading since age three. The results were immediate and he is whipping through the lessons painlessly. Minimal time required per lesson, only 15 minutes for the student and 5 minutes for the teacher. I highly recommend it, though it is expensive.

Whether you are learning or teaching, the techniques used in "Spelling Power" are very simple to use. Instead of the ole' Study, Test, Study method- you are encouraged to do the opposite. The first day is spent taking a placement test (about 10-15 minutes) to see where you start. The next day, you administer the test of ten words first, and only study those words that were incorrect. There are many study ideas, and games that help with the study process. The next day you give the next test of ten words, along with the words that were missed the day before. If more than 5 words were missed, then you only administer the test with the incorrect words, otherwise I could see how self confidence would be an issue if you had a 30 word test by the end of the week. We use this book with our 8 and 10 year olds. They no longer dread spelling, and have a great feeling of accomplishment by the end of the week when they can prove that they have "mastered" between 20-50 words. The reason that I gave this book a "4" instead of a "5" is because the teachers guide in the front (which is a necessity to read) is 100 pages of Blah, Blah, Blah, You need to plan on either a couple of hours of UNINTERUPTED reading (yeah right, not in this house) or, do as I did and use a highlighter and skim at 15 minute intervals. The book also comes with a CD rom, which I couldn't get to run on either of our two computers. The publisher is sending me a new one though. All in all we like this program, and even though it's $50, (for a Spelling Book!) It's not just a spelling book, it's 15 minutes a day towards being a sufficient speller which can be used all they way through High School. I recommend adults take the placement test and try it for yourselves, you will be surprised. I know I was.

My kids (11yo girl, 8yo boy) are LOVING this curriculum.

I read the instructions, as strongly recommended, and felt I found the right curriculum from the beginning. No, I didn't read the whole intro because... well who's got that kind of time! But, glancing through it reassured me the author put a lot of thought and research into spelling.

Lessons are only 15 minutes with a pretest that is to be 5 minutes max. The best part is my kids will not have busy work writing words they already know. The time restraint keeps things refreshingly managable for both teacher and student. I recommend buying the consumable student books for their convenience.

*Student takes couple placement tests.
I was a bit fearful of this step, but it was a breeze!
*Student sets up lesson page with date (addressing calendars).
*Student writes out well written spelling rule for group number as mom dictates.
Other spelling curriculums don't include this or the rules are written poorly
that it leaves out words or it's too complicated to understand. Every option
for the phonetic sound is included then the test list includes an example.
This also teaches the students phonetic writing.
*5 minute pre-test.

*Student studies only words mis-spelled.
This is the best part! Student transfers words to opposite page. Each word
goes through 10 steps that cover every kind of learner, auditory, visual, tactile.
The page is set up with boxes to check off so the student remembers each step.

Another reason to buy the student workbook is the front cover lists the daily steps for teacher and student and the back cover lists the 10 steps.

I have been pleased to see my kids miss only 1-2 words per session (4 the most) so the sessions are usually finished in less than the 15 minutes. My kids are both advanced readers.

January f/u
Writing the phonetic rule is the most challenging for my 9yo son. Some are pretty lengthy. Worst part, he doesn't seem to retain the rule, so what's the point?!

I just listened to an interview with Andrew Pudewa, director of Institute for Excellence in Writing (seriously considering buying), discuss spelling. He said some kids are not good visual organizers and writing/reading to spell is overwhelming because they see all the letters at once instead of in the correct order (not to be confused with dyslexia since 9yo boys are still not developed 100% neurologically. He pointed out spelling use to be taught all verbally, thereby forcing kids to deal with the spelling one letter at a time while sounding out the word one syllable at a time. He also said phonetic rules complicate the learning process and has observed terrible spellers with strong reading skills that were ruined by the push of phonetic rules after learning how to read. I can definitely see how my son fits this. Therefore....

I will change the testing to verbal. When he begins to spell a word wrong, I will immediately correct him - not allowing him to finish (recommended by several resources). We will discuss the phonetic rule during the process but I will no longer require him to write it out.

Mr. Pudewa recommended the Avco Sequential Spelling (my method last year - hated it) because the words are grouped into phonetic families and there is no phonetic rules to learn. But, he also mentioned this book as a great resource for learning the most commonly mispelled words. I wish I had learned this method's concept of not requiring kids to practice words they already spell correctly. I may have stayed with the Avco and found success. Since I already have this, I'll tweek it and hope for the same success.

5/2011 F/U Could this review be any longer!? We are still enjoying this and things have improved even more since changing my son's pretests to verbal. I have also relaxed about writing the spelling rules by shortening them and writing most of it for my son. Both my kids appear to retain the knowledge better now. We will continue using this for next year and this will be the last f/u note.

Great book, very useful for diagnosing where your child stands in his/her knowledge of the rules of spelling. Once you've used the tests to see at what level your child spells, you have lots of creative ways to reinforce and upgrade their skills...this book is fantastic! I recommend it not only for those parents who homeschool, but for those parents and students who want a great teaching tool for improving spelling acumen in preparation for a spelling bee.

I like the idea behind this book but the instruction you must read before starting is very thick and hard to read through.

I am using this with a 15 year old I tutor. It is very informative and helpful. It seems to answer my questions and tell me what to do. Nothing babyish for older students.

I am using this for a 9th grader, who I recently tested using your suggestions. She tested at a 6.1 spelling level. So far after about a 4 different groups, she has only missed between 3 and 4 words in each group. I hope she can continue in her success and improve in her spelling.