Spelling Power Review

Spelling has been a real challenge for my dd. In Abeka for 2nd grade, they have 20 words a week to learn. It wasn't that she was doing terrible, she was getting A's and B's (mostly) on her tests. But, she wouldn't remember how to spell them the next week.

Well, since we are switching to My Father's World next year, I thought I would look into their recommendation for spelling for 3rd grade. I did some web research and found out how it works. We started incorporating Spelling Power's methods to studying Abeka's spelling lists. It is really paying off! She's only missed one word since we started in January.

Here is what we do... On Friday, I copy the words onto 3 x 5 cards, and then we just say-spell-say them and talk about the different special sounds the list covers that week. Then, on Monday we study the first 5 words using Spelling Power's 10 step method. This involves looking at the word, marking the double letters, marking the vowels, and then we guess what her "weasel" might be - what might make her miss the word. Then, we try to make those letters look like a weasel some how. (It's really funny, some of the pictures we've come up with). Then she looks at the word and spells it. Then, I have her write it with her finger on a textured pillow we have on our couch without looking at the word. After that she traces the letters on the 3 x 5 card, then writes it in her notebook without looking at the word. If she gets it right, we go on to the next one. If she gets it wrong, we look at what the "weasel" really was, and go through the steps again.

Then, on Tuesday we do the first 10 words; Wednesday covers the first 15 words; and Thursday covers all 20 words. Now, she's also writing the entire list each day during seat work time. She is doing so much better with her spelling tests, and spelling in general. Instead of asking me how to spell every word, she's actually trying to write everything out and then letting me come back and help her fix them. This is such a big improvement over where we were.

Anyway, this mom gives 2 thumbs up to Spelling Power. I can't wait to get into full swing with it this fall.

Hope this helps someone else.