m2m4christ
- Reviewed on Saturday, May 23, 2009
- Grades Used: 2nd and 4th
- Dates used: 2008-2009
We have been using AVKO for the last several months and have really enjoyed it. Here's why.... I have a very left brain son struggling to read and a bright and very language oriented daughter that loves to read, however always had lots of misspelled words in her writing. What I love about AVKO is that it is systematic and both my kids seem to get it. I've never understood why you would teach spelling in a phonics approach to a child who is struggling with that very thing. This has taught my struggling reader to spell would like "would" and "could" by memorization and association. My sons fav book was inside outside upside down, so it made sense to him when we learned to spell out, then pout, then shout, then snout. He gets it and it sticks. The lessons are also loaded with opportunities to teach grammar and punctuation which I love. Also my son's reading exploded after using this program because he associated the words he was learning in spelling with what he was seeing in his Abeka readers. This style also reinforces seeing chunks of words which is great for kids that get overwhelmed easy. I’ve read some unfavorable reviews of this curriculum because of the few nonsense words found in the lists... these are part of the block building. If you don't like them you can skip them... it really is that easy. Not sure why people get so unnerved by something that can be fixed so easily. If you want a structured user friendly spelling program this is it. My kids also encourage each other. Also there are lots of suggestions for using white boards to write the words out, ect... we change up what we do... I usually call out the word have them write it on their paper then they take turns going to the board and writing the correct spelling on the board, but other days I call out a word and we spell the correct spelling out loud together and correct any misspellings. It's so easy,so flexible and a huge confidence builder. Highly recommend it. Just trust the author of the program and go with it you will see results!
|
home4028
- Reviewed on Tuesday, March 24, 2009
- Grades Used: 2nd
- Dates used: 2009-
My ds was really struggling with spelling. We were using a different curriculum that boiled down to memorizing how to spell a list of words. It just didn't work for him.
Then, against my nature, I switched curriculums mid-year to Sequential Spelling. What a difference! Using a pattern for learning how to spell really works with the way my ds thinks. Now his spelling is so much better.
This curriculum requires no teacher preparation. It's completely open and go. Though, before you start the curriculum I would open and read how the author suggests the curriculum be implemented. There is also no memorization for the child. Its all phonics and patterns. It has really helped my ds stop and think about how a word is spelled. Every now and again I do skip a word or two presented in the list for various reasons. Most likely because I had never heard it before and wouldn't know how to present it or the meaning of the word these days isn't *ahem* proper. We can work on vocabulary later - this is for spelling.
Conclusion: I really am very happy with this curriculum. I predict many happy years of spelling lessons using Sequential Spelling.
|
JayKay
- Reviewed on Sunday, March 08, 2009
- Grades Used: 5-6th
- Dates used: 2007-2009
Sequential Spelling is really wonderful for the teacher and the student. No teacher prep and no more unnecessary memorizing by the student.
Since my dd is in 6th we do about 4 lessons on her spelling days.
And she often asks for harder words to challenge her. I do not use every word in every list, because once that I see she has the base word down and the prefixes and suffixes use correctly, we move on.
I do keep track of words that see to cause problems on an index card and I review those words over and over til she gets them correct.
The cost is so affordable about $12 for the book and we just use a tablet for her lists. My dd was not the best speller a couple of years ago, then I used All About Spelling to define her spelling woes and then on to Sequential Spelling from there. Will finish with level 2 very soon and will go to 3 and will continue to work on spelling til end of 7th or 8th grade, but will use Sequential Spelling til the end..
Very simple, very affordable and ver do-able...
Very please.
Since Sequential Spelling my dd has become a very confident speller and spelling in her fav subject...
|
MamaChristine
- Reviewed on Thursday, December 04, 2008
- Grades Used: 2nd, 4th
- Dates used: 2008-2009
I am currently using AVKO Sequential Spelling 1 and am very pleased with it. I received it from Sonlight and am using it with my 2nd and 4th graders.
Because my 4th grader has had trouble in the past with spelling, Book 1 has helped her a great deal. She is mastering the skills and spelling rules while my 2nd grader is learning them for the first time.
Some reviewers have called AVKO's lists and repetition boring. I would imagine that if your student has achieved mastery in this area it really would be. In our case, the repetition has been incredibly helpful, especially because the lists use different forms of the same words - it keeps my children "on their toes" and has (dare I say it?) improved their listening skills.
We've tried different methods of using AVKO's spelling lists and have found the easiest and most fun way is to use individual white boards. I read the word, they write it out and turn it toward me ("game show" style.) If they've gotten the word right we move on. If someone has made a mistake I review the spelling or spelling rule. Perhaps that's why it isn't tedious for us.
|
|
