For those of you that use BJU Spelling, could you answer a few questions for me? I will be using it for 1st and 3rd grade. 1. Do I need the teacher guide? 2. Is it pretty independent? 3. Will I need a seperate vocabulary curriculum? 4. Care to share your pros and cons on it? Thanks ladies!
OK, I typed this all on my kindle and hit the wrong button! So, here I go again. I have no experience below grade 3, so I can't speak for grade 1 & 2. 3-6 are the same format. 1. The teacher guide helps with quick grading and explaining the spelling rule for each lesson. You don't have to have it though. 2. Once you teach the spelling rule for the lesson, the workpages are independent. 3. There is some vocabulary mixed in, but it is mostly spelling. There is a dictionary at the back of the workbook with the definitions for all the spelling words and special workpages to go with the dictionary. You could make your own vocabulary lesson using that. (I use Wordly Wise for vocabulary.) 4. A pro for me is that BJU in general always seems a little advanced, so the words are not just simple words. They keep a journal and make an entry each lesson based on a prompt. I can't remember anything I just did not like about it. It has been several years since we used it because it stops at grade 6 and mine are in 9th now! Our co-op uses BJU reading and spelling in grades 3-6. Hope this helps some.
