Alana in Canada & those of you who use SWR or WRTR

[Canada_Mom]

How long is your school year?? Do you do a 32 or 36 week school year or year round school? How does SWR fit into your schedule?

I am wanting to switch to more of a year round approach but am not sure what to do regarding using the TM. We are currently a bit behind due to baby's imminent arrival so we're only on week 24. I'm just wondering what you do after you've finished week 32?

The spelling words seem to get quite difficult so I don't know if it is a good idea to just start off in the gr. 2 TM once I finish. I'm guessing the way we're going we'll be done the gr1 TM by end of April/beg of May. Should I just spend several weeks reviewing the gr. 1 words and start week 1 of gr.2 in the fall or late summer?? or just order the gr2 TM and keep going?

What do you do?

[Ellie]

How long is your school year?? Do you do a 32 or 36 week school year or year round school? How does SWR fit into your schedule?

I am wanting to switch to more of a year round approach but am not sure what to do regarding using the TM. We are currently a bit behind due to baby's imminent arrival so we're only on week 24. I'm just wondering what you do after you've finished week 32?

The spelling words seem to get quite difficult so I don't know if it is a good idea to just start off in the gr. 2 TM once I finish. I'm guessing the way we're going we'll be done the gr1 TM by end of April/beg of May. Should I just spend several weeks reviewing the gr. 1 words and start week 1 of gr.2 in the fall or late summer?? or just order the gr2 TM and keep going?

What do you do?

In your specific situation, I'm thinking it would be good for you to take a few weeks off, and when you're ready, start gr. 2.

[Alana in Canada]

I'm a little confused by your question.

You are on week 24 of your school year?

I'm also confused by your use of "Garde 1 and "Grade 2" I have an older version of SWR where things aren't broken down by grades, except this way (oh, maybe this is what you meant?):

K, A--->I
1st, repeat A--->I, new: J--->L
2nd, repeat J-->L, new: M*-->O
3rd, repeat M*-->O New P-->S
4th, repeat P-->S, new: T-->Z
5th, repeat T--->Z

"*--each lesson in M and N suggests 15-20 words for review words from lists A-->I."

Now first, I completely ignore the grade thing. I'm working with both my children at once--I tried separating them, but it drove me batty trying to keep track of both, so we've done "K" and we are now doing 1st.

This is only our second year through the program. The first year we got to List G or H2 or something, I don't remember: we didn't make it all the way through I.

We took about a six to eight week break from spelling specifically and then started right back at A. With NEW Logs!

We are now on I, and starting to get into new material. (Please understand that we took a three month unplanned break this fall! otherwise we'd be much further along.)

We are going to school straight through to December. By then, we should be finishing List N.

We'll probably take another 6 to 8 week break from spelling (but continue all our other subjects) and then I will give them a diagnostic. Then I hope to start them on the list that makes the most sense, given the diagnostic and the plan above.

However, I suspect I will just repeat J--->L.

The reasons are two
1) it's the way the program is designed: lots of repetition. The spelling lists are paradigms of the rules and the phonograms. The point is to know and apply the rules and phonograms. When they spell a word (or a list) correctly, then I know they know the rules and phonograms.
(For example, if a child gets more than five words wrong on a list, we up the phonogram and rule drill with more games and so on. I may not even dictate a given list and just do that stuff in spelling time.)

2) the children build their confidence when it's *easy*--they enjoy getting 100% on their tests and have actually begged me to test them. (Often, to save some time I don't give a final test if they got 100% on their quiz without having to ask me for "clues.") As well, it's the second time through the lists where it is fun. The first time can be just torture.

The long and short of it is this:
1) The lists do not fit neatly into a "school year" of any length--if you do 1 list/week.
Think about it.
A--->I has 12 lists.
J-->L has 19 lists, so in year 2 you are doing 32 lists.
but M*-->O has 21 lists, so in "2nd" you are doing 40 lists. Now, to be fair, Sanseri does suggest doing two lists per week (40 words) but I don't like rushing. As well, until recently, dictation took FOREVER so I honestly could not tolerate the thought of doing 40 a week. I may change my mind though.

2) make the program fit you and want you want out of it. It's not a straight jacket--it's a tool. You have permission to do the thing any way that fits you and your kids' needs.

hth.

[Canada_Mom]

You're more organized than I am. I didn't actually dissect TWRTR and break it down into the word lists. I purchased the TM and follow that guideline. It tells you which words to do during which week. Currently we are doing their week#24 of the school year, which, I just looked up is words in the middle of section L. The Grade 1 TM ends at 32 weeks of instruction with the last spelling word being "voice" or the end of section N. WRTR is 30 new spelling words per week w/phonogram review. I am working at this pace b/c DD is capable of it and enjoys spelling.

We do a daily test of 10 words per day and a weekly review test of the 30 new ones learned that week. Then once a month, I do the diagnostic review test to make sure she is retaining every so far.

I was just confused where/when to start Gr. 2 and wanted to know what others do. I like your approach to it and it does seem very do-able without the TM. I just find myself so busy running around chasing babies that the TM has become my "lifeline." Much less thinking, for the most part... I need that right now.

I was hoping to save myself the money (almost $100) next year by not purchasing the TM. Thank you for the guide about which word lists for grade level. That was VERY helpful!

[Alana in Canada]

aaah--I see!

I use SWR. You are using WRTR. That's why I was confused.

Sanseri modified WRTR--I guess making up the lists was one of he modifications!

Glad I could help.