We need something new for spelling next year. We've used MCP for

[MJN]

several years and it's just getting boring. I really want them to be able to spell well. I'm looking for recommendations for grades 5-8.

Thanks!

[angela in ohio]

I started wtih Spelling Workout when I started homeshcooling, tried many other programs, and ended up back with it. I really think it is a great spelling program. My non-natural speller 6th grader is consistently tying for first place at spelling bee practice for 5th-8th graders. I know that is anecdotal, but it's obvioulsy helping somehow. ;)

[Teresa in OR]

My daughter, who is a so-so speller by nature, did very well with the Calvert CDs. Her retention was good and carried over into her writing. She enjoyed doing spelling on the computer as a change of pace from the spelling workbooks she had done previously. We used the older versions of Calvert Spelling (it was before the new ones came out).

[AngieW in Texas]

I really like Megawords. It also works on vocabulary, so you are killing two birds with one stone. It starts at 4th grade level, but I generally recommend starting with the first book for everybody. It's easy to get through two books in one year, even if you just do 1 page/day, so "catching up" to the grade level book will happen pretty quickly.

link to my review:
http://www.thehomeschoollibrary.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1314

edited to add:
My 7th grader really likes this series. She didn't like all the busywork in Spelling Workout and she didn't like the way that the words were grouped into lists with Calvert (although it was the old Calvert spelling cds, so the organization may have changed). She likes the way that she can see the purpose behind each of the exercises and that the reason for words to be grouped together is obvious.