OK, I've been sleeping under a rock and have never heard of Megawords until today.

[Staci in MO]

So, if I was to use Megawords with my son, where would I start?

He struggles with spelling, and doesn't seem to have any ability to tell when a word looks right or not.

But, he reads very well. He's read Lord of the Rings, I, Robot, can read and comprehend the newspaper, etc. Reading is not the problem.

He's done Sequential Spelling this past year. It's helping but it's so boring that we both dread it. Megawords looks like a good compromise.

So, is it the kind of thing you have to start at the beginning, or can I start with a later book?

TIA

[sabrina]

I am so glad that you asked this question. I have a son like yours. Reads well but just doesn't know that a word is not right. When he was little I told him to look at the word on the chalkboard in his head and he told me that there wasn't a chalkboard in his head! I have since decided that it has something to do with the fact that he is auditory and not visual. I tried Spelling Power and that didn't work because he could spell a word right the first time and pass the test but then misspell the same word in his personal work. I switched to Phonetic Zoo (Veritas Press) b/c it is for auditory learners. My son had a problem with the teachers accent on the CD so I still have to give him the test. They stick to the same list (test every day) until the make 100% twice in a row. Tedious - but I have seen some improvement. I am very curious about Megawords and would love to learn more about it. I'm afraid that I am not help to you except to let you know that you are not alone! Good luck!

[summer]

http://www.epsbooks.com/dynamic/catalog/series.asp?seriesonly=1825M

[Mama Lynx]

I just started my 12 year old at the beginning. He can spell all the words in the first book, but I figured he can benefit from learning about the different kinds of syllables.

[Katrina]

I started my 12 dd in the first book as well. There are assessment booklets for each level if you wanted to test your child first.

[Lori D.]

Megawords is for grades 4 and up. If your child has learning issues (as does my younger son), then I'd say grade 5 and up. Megawords can be used as your sole spelling program, or as a spelling supplement. Megawords teaches vowel patterns and syllibication, which help the student break multi-syllable words into smaller "chunks" for pattern recognition and spelling attack.

Wherever you are in your spelling, I highly recommend starting with Book 1; that way the student builds confidence with early success, and both you and your student have a chance to learn how Megawords "works." Book 2, -- and esp. Book 3 (and beyond) -- quickly advance into more difficult words and patterns.

Yes, get both the student workbook and the teacher book/answer key. The teacher book has the lists of syllables you dictate to the student for some of the exercises -- you can figure out from the word list at the beginning of the unit what words/syllables are being practiced, but having the teacher book with the list already for you saves you a lot of time. Also, there are spelling tips and helpful teaching info in the teacher book/answer key.

Save yourself some time and headache, and get both Book 1 AND Book 2 at the same time if you go with Megawords, as you will definitely finish one workbook in less than a schoolyear.


We have used Megawords for the past 3 years as a supplement to an indivdualized spelling program, and it has helped our struggling speller son *tremendously*! As spelling supplement, we do a page a day of Megawords, 4x/week. At that rate, we get through one whole workbook and about 1/4th to 1/3rd of the next workbook in a 36-week schoolyear.

See about 4 sample pages from each workbook at: www.christianbook.com


BEST of luck in your spelling journey! Warmest regards, Lori D.

[Jackie in AR]

Wherever you are in your spelling, I highly recommend starting with Book 1; that way the student builds confidence with early success, and both you and your student have a chance to learn how Megawords "works." Book 2, -- and esp. Book 3 (and beyond) -- quickly advance into more difficult words and patterns.

Yes, get both the student workbook and the teacher book/answer key. The teacher book has the lists of syllables you dictate to the student for some of the exercises -- you can figure out from the word list at the beginning of the unit what words/syllables are being practiced, but having the teacher book with the list already for you saves you a lot of time. Also, there are spelling tips and helpful teaching info in the teacher book/answer key.


My poor speller has used Megawords for about 9 months, and I agree with everything Lori says.

[deeinfl]

I cannot say enough about Megawords. My struggling 7th/8th grader is using Sequential Spelling and is doing alright, but Megawords has forced him to really see how word patterns are formed and the whys of those word patterns.

The mix of both has done wonders for him, and yes, get yourself two or three because you might go through them faster than expected. Because my son is almost an 8th grader and we are sort of on crunch time, we finished 3 books this year by doing 4 pages a day, but 2 would be just fine and you would still probably get through two books a year with this schedule.

To my delight, my son's spelling isn't the only thing that has improved. I was totally oblivious to how little vocabulary my son actually knew, and Megawords provides the vocabulary that was lacking throughout his curriculum.

So you get reading improvement, spelling, and vocabulary. My hats to off to the EPS people with this one. We have truly seen and reaped the benefits of using this this year.

HTH,

Dee in Sunny FL! (definitely start with book 1 no matter what the age/grade level, it builds the foundation for the rest of the books.)

(shhh, my spelling, reading and vocabulary have improved grading his Megawords assignments, too! :) )

[Lovedtodeath]

I had not heard of Megawords before either. Glad you posted this.

[Lori D.]

Dee, so glad it's working well for your struggling speller, too! And thanks for mentioning the vocab. -- I forgot that. The combo of teaching word patterns and vocab. make Megawords a great spelling program for middle school and into high school, IMO. : )

[sabrina]

What about the assessment book? Is that a necessary book or just a waste of money? It seems rather expensive so I want to make sure that it is worthwhile.
Thanks!

[deeinfl]

Hmm? I had never heard of this book, but I'll save you the money. Start in book 1, it lays the foundation for all the others. :D

Dee :tongue_smilie:

[nmoira]

What about the assessment book? Is that a necessary book or just a waste of money? It seems rather expensive so I want to make sure that it is worthwhile.This would be for classroom teachers, to help them keep track up of multiple students. Since you're working one-on-one with your child, you'll know where work is still needed.

[sabrina]

I cannot say enough about Megawords. My struggling 7th/8th grader is using Sequential Spelling and is doing alright, but Megawords has forced him to really see how word patterns are formed and the whys of those word patterns.

The mix of both has done wonders for him, and yes, get yourself two or three because you might go through them faster than expected. Because my son is almost an 8th grader and we are sort of on crunch time, we finished 3 books this year by doing 4 pages a day, but 2 would be just fine and you would still probably get through two books a year with this schedule.

To my delight, my son's spelling isn't the only thing that has improved. I was totally oblivious to how little vocabulary my son actually knew, and Megawords provides the vocabulary that was lacking throughout his curriculum.

So you get reading improvement, spelling, and vocabulary. My hats to off to the EPS people with this one. We have truly seen and reaped the benefits of using this this year.

HTH,

Dee in Sunny FL! (definitely start with book 1 no matter what the age/grade level, it builds the foundation for the rest of the books.)

(shhh, my spelling, reading and vocabulary have improved grading his Megawords assignments, too! :) )

How do you schedule using both curriculums simultaneously? I am very concerned about the time I will have to spend on it each day. Does your son do Megawords independently? I would appreciate any help. Thanks!

[Linda in Oregon]

How do you schedule using both curriculums simultaneously? I am very concerned about the time I will have to spend on it each day. Does your son do Megawords independently? I would appreciate any help. Thanks!


I can't speak to how long it takes to do Sequential Spelling, but as for Megawords.....usually 15 - 20 minutes. My 10 year old can do this independently on days when there's no dictation. I think there's dictation maybe once a week.

On another note....we've tried many, many things for spelling and this one she actually says she likes and is excited to do! Excited to do spelling??? I think she likes it because the program makes sense to her and she has been successful with it.

[deeinfl]

Sabrina, we do one to two lists of Sequential spelling a day. This takes us about 15 minutes, and for the most part he works on Megawords independently and completes 3-4 pages a day. I do randomly orally quiz him on the unit's words and we do a little speed drill at the end of the unit to see how many words he can read correctly in a minute. We try to keep it simple, though.

HTH,

Dee

[JeannineW]

I realize this thread is a month old but it seems a good place to post my question....

Is Megawords for "all kids"? My daughter will be in 3rd grade this fall. She is an average student. She has yet to take off with reading. She can read well enough but will only read chapter books with me. She has yet to start writing much of anything so I don't know how well she will spell. She will be doing SWO B in the fall but I'm not quite satisfied with SWO (even though we haven't started it, yet) so I've been looking at other options.

I ordered Megawords 1 so I could see about using it for 4th grade. I'm put off a little by the introduction. It seems like it's target audience is learning disabled kids. Is it a great spelling program for the average kid or just kids with serious trouble spelling? It seems so much more rigorous than SWO. It seems like she would learn more but I wonder if it is overkill. Any thoughts?

[Lolly]

I think 4th grade is the perfect age to start. I don't use it as a spelling program. I use it just as a workbook and use Sequential Spelling for spelling lists. SS is also great for starting in 4th!

[nmoira]

I ordered Megawords 1 so I could see about using it for 4th grade. I'm put off a little by the introduction. It seems like it's target audience is learning disabled kids.I'm using it with my highly gifted child and find it perfectly appropriate. :) We don't use it as a reading & spelling program, only a spelling program.

[jg_puppy]

My daughter will be in 3rd grade this fall. She is an average student. She has yet to take off with reading. She can read well enough but will only read chapter books with me. She has yet to start writing much of anything so I don't know how well she will spell.

My dd will be starting 3rd next year as well and I am thinking about adding Megawords. I am not sure when I should start this program.

For the people that have used this program if you had a third grader that is a very poor speller, but reading at a 5th grade level would it be okay to start Megawords now or do you think it would be better to wait until 4th grade.

Jan

[nmoira]

For the people that have used this program if you had a third grader that is a very poor speller, but reading at a 5th grade level would it be okay to start Megawords now or do you think it would be better to wait until 4th grade.Megawords assumes only that the student can spell most one syllable words, including those with vowel combinations. There is no reinforcement or teaching of one syllable words.

[jg_puppy]

Megawords assumes only that the student can spell most one syllable words, including those with vowel combinations. There is no reinforcement or teaching of one syllable words.

Thank you that helps.

Jan

[JeannineW]

Thanks for the responses.

Jan,

I won't be using it with my 3rd grader. I think it is too much writing for her. For example, on page 1B the child writes 30 single words and then copies 30 compound words. I'll have to reassess next year and see if she is ready for it for 4th grade. I'm surprised that people get through the books so quickly. I'm sure one page will be all my daughter will be able to handle. I guess if the child is older it's easier for them to do several pages a day.

[Lolly]

He is only doing one page a day. Not because of the amount of writing, but because I don't want to rush through the units. I want the information to have time to sink in. As a side note, you will be amazed at how much more writing your dd will be able to handle in the next couple of years if you build it up weekly. The difference in the amount of writing a 2nd grader and a 4th grader use is astounding!