Spelling Power

I am a little shame-faced to admit I avoided looking into this program because of the name. I just didn't like it. It sounded too Supermanish or L. Ron Hubbardish. Instead I chewed through spelling programs, and still both kiddo and I found spelling to be our worst subject.I finally tried SP (after SWR, AAS, R&S Spelling, a Mott Media book, SWO, and SWS&V ... and lest I sound like a curriculum hopping Mama, I've only used one math program for the last 5 years .... only spelling was our bugaboo), and I got the third edition to save some money.The intro is easy to read, easy to outline, and common-sensical once you got the over-all picture. A few times through with my card of steps, and now I could do it in my sleep.Some thoughts: 1) this book is for after phonics are down pat. Age 7-9 depending on child would be earliest start time. 2) Child really focuses on the misspelled words. Not every word is ground through to the point of tears. 3) Best done at least 5 days a week, but with short times. 4) The notebooks, IMO, are worth it. 5)Don't let the name and the fact it is one book (not a whole series with cards and magnet letters, etc) turn you away. 6) The placement tests are not painful, and are EASY to interpret. 7) You, as teacher, should know the spelling rules (I think this true of any program, but you should know them from the get-go to be effective from the get-go; you can find them online. I just used the Spell to Write and Read rules I already had.)(ETA: I have since read Unlocking the Logic of English. This is an excellent overview of the spelling rules, and easy to make a cheat sheet from.)The rewards: 1) Kiddo is a better proofreader, speller, and writes more on his own because his confidence is up. 2) It taught him an attack method for learning words. 3) There was a 4 day "wean period" of not getting finger hints (SWR), or phonetic re-pronunciations to help him when stuck. He also didn't like having his errors in front of him. There was a single tear a day for 4 days, but then -- much more independence. He learned the steps as well. 4) a SINGLE book I have a sticky tab in, I open, I look for my tiny pencil mark showing where we stopped and what words to retest today, and I'm OFF. 5) Both mastery and spiral, with mastery of the individual words, and spiral with the rules. 6) Multisensorial, without making a big noise about it. All kids do all the methods, in order, for audio, visual, and kinetic learning.We've been at this 2 months, and this is the happiest I've been with ANY curriculum, no matter the subject.If you'd like to compare what your child does well with in homeschooling, kiddo also "clicked" with Growing with Grammar, Singapore Math, and Writing With Ease.So, if you've tried the others and are in despair, or if you'd like to start with a program that will take you through high school in ONE book, consider Spelling Power.ETA: 6 months in and still at it. Kiddo is up to grade and better now. More confident. Also, have read the short book on spelling rules entitled Unlocking the Logic of English. This is a FAR better intro to the spelling rules the teacher should know that just using the list from SWR or one pulled off the internet.ETA: 11 months in and still happy! We have hit a great groove.

[01/2013 If you're interested in the details of the book then read. If just want to know how it ends, skip to the bottom.]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 poorlythat it leaves out words or it's too complicated to understand. Every optionfor 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 wordgoes 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/uWriting 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....5/2011 F/U02/2012 f/u01/2013 I'm shopping again. We have been very inconsistent this year. Blame it on the bored and unimpressed teacher. I've been disappointed to hear my kids still asking how to spell words I know were part of this curriculum or seeing it mispelled in hand written notes. I started my kids early with typing and they use it for almost all their writing. So the main spelling issue is knowing which homonym to use. I'm struggling with the idea of spending our valuable time on spelling in this world of Spellcheck. I point it out to my kids and stress the importance of homonyms. I'm looking at a book that discusses the rules of spelling and how to teach your kids/yourself how to spell instead of memorizing. Memorizing only works when the material is continued to be reviewed. Do colleges offer classes on spelling?

I have used this before for homeschooling my daughter, and now plan to start with my second grade granddaughter this year. There are so many confusing accessory type items you can get with it. But basically I just use the list. We can be creative with how we learn the lists with 2nd grade. But with my daughter in middle and high school she simply had a test every day of the next 5 words (or was it 10?). Any she got wrong she wrote 5 times and they were the first words on the next day's list. If she didn't learn a word, basically she wrote it 5 times a day until she did learn it. However, I think this method is really only good for teens. With younger kids I think I will have to find more creative ways to study the words.I like that there is a placement test to determine which level to start on, and someone teaching several students can use one book and keep using that same book for years!

I was really battling to find a spelling program that worked for all my kids. My older son is a natural speller, but my younger son and my daughter aren't! A friend recommended Spelling Power and I bought this one. I must say the first few chapters of instruction felt overwhelming, but the "quick steps" gave me a good overview in an evening's sitting, and then I could better understand the chapters that followed. I have done the survey and placement tests with all my kids, and started them on their own levels. They are loving the format, and I enjoy just having to open the book and do the next section without having to prepare and plan. I have marked each child's level with a different color paper clip and that helps.Thank you for speedy service and quick international delivery - well within the allocated postal time!

I have bought this book to teach spelling to my son, 8 who was really anxious about spelling. This book has really helped make things a lot more fun and easy to learn and it only takes a few minutes per day! love it.