Anyone use Spelling for Writers or Wordly Wise

[workingmom]

I'm thinking of using these for my ds in his second grade curriculum. Right now for first grade enrichment we use Spelling Power, it seems a bit basic for him, but I like it b/c of the handwriting practice offered in each lesson. As for definitions, I just have him look up a word or two each week from the dictionary. But I have noticed that while he's at a 3rd grade reading level. He can sound out the words but I when he's doing independent reading I know he doesn't know all the vocabulary of what he's reading. I think it will deter him if I ask him to stop and write the words he doesn't know to look up later. Plus I think he gets the jist with the context of sentence. I'd love to hear any experience with either program.

Thanks,

[Sue G in PA]

Personally, it was too much like busywork for me (and my dc!). We actually didn't complete the books b/c I found it so unnecessary. Others may disagree. If I remember correctly there wasn't much dictionary work in them. The def's were already there in the book. This year, we just use words from our history and science studies as our vocabulary program. I also have the dc choose 3-5 words from their SWO list that are unfamiliar to them. They look up the word, write the def and use each in a good sentence.

[mcconnellboys]

I think Wordly Wise might be written to a little older student, unless I'm wrong and they have a second/third grade text. I am using it at the end of the year this year, but with a fourth grader. Perhaps you can look at a sample of it online to see if it seems right to you....

Regena

[Diane]

We just finished Wordly Wise 3000 book A (second grade)...it was just okay. I haven't found a spelling curriculum I like. We used WW and ETC books instead and I give my son some words from both curriculums. The one thing I do like about WW, and my son's evaluator loved is they have a section where they have to see connections between groups of words and see which one doesn't fit. There are actually a few exercises that the evaluator really liked and said if we continued on, my Son would breeze through the SAT's. I figure with WW, he gets a lot of reading in, some handwriting as they have write out full sentences for their answers, it helps with comprehension. So, maybe I take it back that it was just okay, and say it is good. Another plus, is that it only costs 5.50 for the workbook- that's all you need. So, for 5 bucks, I think there is a lot of bang for your buck.

[WendyK]

We completed WWA and are now working through B. I like it. At that level stuff is mostly multiple choice.

With vocabulary and reading selections I usually make a list of words from the reading (myself) that I think my son might not know. It does not have to be every single word. Then I go over them before or after the reading. We just talk about what they mean. I do this for several subjects. I don't make him write every single thing and look up every single thing. That would just take so much time and cause so much frustration I don't think it would be worth what he would get out of doing that.

[Colleen in SEVA]

We use WW 3000 2nd edition (the ones with the numbering based on grade levels). I agree that the 2nd and 3rd grade levels are mostly busywork, but I see it as productive busy work because he is having to answer the questions in complete sentences, he enjoys crossword puzzles, and there is a little bit of thinking involved in the middle exercises (such as the "which word in the group doesn't belong").

In the later books, it starts to incorporate the Latin and Greek roots for words as well as other types of word study. When we get to that level, he will already be familiar with how the books work, and I don't think it will be intimidating.

FWIW, we are also using ETC for spelling.

[workingmom]

I like this, but do you do it for free reading also? I guess there is no good way to make sure you get all the words defined. What do you use for the definition?


We completed WWA and are now working through B. I like it. At that level stuff is mostly multiple choice.

With vocabulary and reading selections I usually make a list of words from the reading (myself) that I think my son might not know. It does not have to be every single word. Then I go over them before or after the reading. We just talk about what they mean. I do this for several subjects. I don't make him write every single thing and look up every single thing. That would just take so much time and cause so much frustration I don't think it would be worth what he would get out of doing that.

[mcconnellboys]

Aah, I see that there are lower levels of this available now. I wasn't aware of those,

Regena

[WendyK]

I like this, but do you do it for free reading also? I guess there is no good way to make sure you get all the words defined. What do you use for the definition?

No not usually for free reading. For free reading I just ask him to tell me what the story/chapter was about (so I know he read it). Right now I'm doing a reading incentive (if he reads 20 books he gets to go to Bounce and Party..hehe).

I use the Elson readers (the teacher's book has a vocabulary list). I define the word based on the way it was used in the reading, and I will point out an alternate meaning if it is a common word. Then I usually have some sort of chapter type book going at the same time (silent reading and then we discuss the reading so I know he read it and understood it). I usually go over the words after with that one too.

[training5]

We are using WW3000 2nd edition Book 3. We are finding it to be busywork. We are on lesson 4 and I am debating if we will continue or not. If you do use it, I would suggest getting the tests. I wish I had. We are going to start Apples and Pears Spelling as soon as our tax refund comes in.