Okay, I have 2 eight yr olds and a 9yr old. I have not quite figured out a spelling program for them. I have done some things off the zaner-blouser website, but I was wondering if you all had any recommendations. I guess I do want something that is a bit more laid out for me, but I don't know where to start them since we started so late in the year.
I use the free program at the Zaner-Blouser site We write the words on Monday, do the worksheet on Wednesday and test on Friday. If you need more activities, write sentences on Tuesday or go to spellingcity.com and set up an account (it's free), use their lists or make your own (the Zaner lists ) and let them play games and things there Here is the zaner thing I use in case you are on something different http://www.zaner-bloser.com/spellingconnections/practice-pages.html
We do Sequential Spelling. It's 25 words a day. If you look at a week as 4 days, you're dealing with mostly the same words, just changed a bit with suffixes. For example, you might start day one with talk. Then day 2 is talks. Day 3 is talked. Day 4 is talking. Each 'week' has 25 words, usually 2-3 fact families and generally a couple of sight words.
Also a SS user here. Another great one is All About Spelling, but it's expensive. If you go with Sequential Spelling, get it from the Sonlight website. It's about half the price of retail (or, it has been every time I've looked. Might not be now. I see them elsewhere for $20, but it was around $10 at Sonlight.)
What about Spalding? I'm interested in using this program but I rarely see it mentioned in the forums...
wE use Sequential Spelling for my OLDEST> BUT for my 3rd grader (8)...I use the lists at www.superteacherworksheets.com (free) and www.spellingciy.com (free) to make worksheets, and have games he can play online. He LOVES this. He is currently working on the 3rd Grade list 30. I love Spelling City. It even tests them!!! I've started using the 1st grade list with my youngest (5) b/c she loves playing on Spelling City too. Not sure what I'm going to do with her - she's learning WAY to fast for me to keep up!!! Next year, I'll be using Spelling Power. What I like about this one is it is SIMILAR to Sequential Spelling in that it has lists/daily tests type stuff BUT, it's usable from 3rd grade to High School. And you only need ONE book for multiple students. While I have to shell out $60 for the book, I will never have to buy another spelling program as long as I homeschool.
Spelling Power is great! Also, my daughter loves www.spellingcity.com to practice her words. I even let her take her tests online! Great resource.
I tried several spelling programs this year with my 8 year old. I then felt led to look more at using CM's methods to teach spelling. On mention from another homeschooling Mom I checked out Spelling Wisdom on the Simply Charlotte Mason website. I watched the video and fell in love with the method. However I will be putting off spelling until my dd is closer to ten based on the recommendations I received from the author of Spelling Wisdom when I contacted her. I think the reason we had such trouble finding a good fit was because dd just was not ready for spelling. She is using copywork daily and Climbing to Good English and she reads at least two hours a day. Much luck to you.
We love, love, love All About Spelling. It is expensive, but has been so worth it. I have sold my used books locally, they are hard to find used and get snatched up quickly.
We use the Phonics Road to Spelling and Reading. It's a bit pricey, but it's worth every penny. My son's spelling improved almost immediately!
Do you use the free spellingcity or pay for the extra. If you do pay the extra is it worth it. I let my son play on it today and he seems to like it. I thinking about paying so I can have the record keeping. Even though Texas doesn't require it I need records in case my ex ever fights homeschooling. I can prove what they do.
Randa, All About Spelling uses the Orton Gillingham method for instruction. (You can Google Orton Gillingham.) This method if often used for dyslexic students and is very effective. Tutors that are trained in this method are usually very pricey. AAS gives you step by step instructions on how to teach your child this way. My children are not dyslexic and are excellent readers, but COULD NOT SPELL. We tried several different programs and they would do fine on the "Test" at the end of the week, but it was not translating into good spelling in their everyday writing. They were getting to the age that they were embarassed to let other people read their writing. We started the program last year when my oldest was in 6th grade and youngest was in 4th. I started them both in book one. I work separately with each of them for 15-20 minutes a day. The first lesson took close to two weeks for them to master (lots of memorizing of sounds) but after that, they moved quickly through books one and 2 before slowing down a little. Now they are both in book 5. There are 6 books available with the 7th and final book to be released in the near future. AAS is very heavy on phonics sounds and rules. I have noticed a big improvement in their everyday spelling.
