I'm trying to find out where to go next. My kids don't do well with the A.C.E. we were using for their Language Arts. I thought about going to LifePacs but wasn't sure if I'd have much luck with those either. The kids learned enough to do fairly well on their paces and then they forgot most of what they learned . Especially their spelling words. So I'm thinking about trying Natural Speller or Sequential Spelling to see if we have better results. Any thoughts on these programs? Thank you.
I haven't used either of those (we did use the ACE, though...and didn't like it). I use Spectrum Spelling. My kids do really well with it and I like it, too.
I have used Natural Speller. It was OK. I changed over to Spelling Power. Like Natural Speller, it is the "only" spelling you'll need (ie: not really "graded"). But the main difference is that it's multi-sensory.
I've looked at both and a hs friend here showed me "Spell to Write and Read" and "The WISE Guide to Spelling" by Wanda Sanseri and that is what I am going to go with. I don't like natural speller or sequential and we've been following how SWR works for the most part anyways and it works well for dd.
HEY!!! I was thinking of you just the other day! Was thinking that you and Tina had disapeared for a while! Tell Tina to "report in" sometime just to let us know she's still around and doing well! I miss talking "boy books" with her!
My kids love spellingtime.com! My ds had an Abeka spelling book and my dd has a Bob Jones spelling book. My ds can spell anything but my dd has having difficulty. (difficulty mostly with caring..lol) Anyway, I type in their word lists into spellingtime.com and they love it. Both get 100%'s every week. You can even do a review. EAch just took a review test today since they were out of town M & T..and they got 100%'s again. I love it! Besides, that it is something they can do on their own. I am really loving that part also. While one does spelling the other does handwriting. Works out great! It is the first thing they want to do every morning.
We love spellingtime also! I use it as a reward though- anything dealing with the computer or tv is a reward here. I usually use it at the end of the school day if she's had a good attitude.
lol Ava. I've used "I'm going to have to call daddy if you don't straighten up and you know what that means!" I really had to limit the spellingtime though, she loves it and she was spending more time doing that then other things- she would make it take longer by purposely spelling words wrong or she'd do the same activity more than once lol. I discovered that a couple weeks ago when I kept hearing the same thing over and over.
I guess my kids have too much pride, too competative or just don't want to write the words 3x instead of 1x....because they would never purposely miss a word. lol. I mean, that 100% club is so cool to them! lol. I must admit though, I was terrible at keeping up with spelling before this online program. I actually forgot to give spelling tests on Fridays a few times. lol. Of course, no one was going to remind me. lol.
lol well she doesn't spell them wrong to have to write them more necessarily, it's because it takes more time at the computer. More time at the computer means more time NOT doing other things she is supposed to do lol.
Natural Speller We like Natural Speller. Great, inexpensive program, simple and easy to use. We also like to use computer spelling games for fun.
I looked at both programs, had decided on Spell to Write and Read and ended up with Spelling Power. LOVE IT. Now if your student likes workbooks and worksheets this would not be the program for them. But I'm really trying to get away from so much of that and this is perfect. Takes 15 minutes a day after the initial survey test and placement test. And it's so easy to follow. Dd likes it because she can work on the words she mispells alone using the 10 step study sheet in the book and then she goes over them with dh at night and uses them in sentences. Usually she only gets 2 or 3 wrong and she's on the Level B list. It's so hard to decide because there are SO many spelling programs out there- it's hard to decide on any subject really lol. We use spellingtime at the end of the week for review so she's not using it every day anymore. And she no longer purposely mispells the words lol, because she has to write them all during the day and by the time she gets to spellingtime she has 30-50 words from throughout the week- about 10 of those she's had to retest on and those are what I use for spellingtime.
I've heard good things about spectrum spelling and I think we used it a bit a couple years ago for my DD. http://www.rainbowresource.com/prodlist.php?sid=1177537801-2054587&subject=8&category=12
