Hi,
I ordered Avko Sequential Spelling Book 1 for use with both my children during August. It is a good fit for the youngest but too easy for the eldest who has had Barton 1-3, PhonoGraphix, & Glass Analysis program. His word identification skills are good, reading just above grade level, spelling scores a little above grade level.
However, he spells phonetically when writing, and long-term memory for phonological detail (COPP) is below average. Being NLD, he is haphazard at self-editing. I am going to give him the Spelling Through Morphographs placement test, which I think he will pass, but shudder at the price. Would the adult level of Sequential Spelling be as good or better for his needs? (We will be starting typing instruction in the Fall.)
Thanks
Avko versus Morphographs
Hi Nancy,
I forgot to mention that my son is 12, so he would be old enough for either program. (The younger one at age 10 would be almost ready - I’m not sure of the middle school ages as we are too sparsley populated to have middle schools here, just K-8 ones.
I will check e-bay. Have you used/seen both programs? Do you think the Avko program is as good as the SRA one? I don’t mind shelling out the e-bay price if it’s a better program for our needs.
Thanks,
Jan
Nancy3
I have seen both programs, and used both regular Sequential Spelling and Spelling Through Morphographs. They are different approaches, so it’s really not possible for me to say which might be better for your 12yo.
What you might want to do is start with SS for Adults Only. If it’s too easy, double up on the lessons (one from each book) to finish it in one year instead of two.
When he finishes SS, move on to STM. STM covers a lot more words in a year (14,000+) than SS because of the way it teaches how to combine word parts. Since it is used as a college remedial spelling program, it could be saved for high school level spelling work.
SS works more on reinforcing recognition of visual patterns in words, which is pretty much a precursor skill for using STM. STM focuses more on combining word parts (but you have to memorize the spelling of the word parts).
Nancy
Re: Spelling Programs
Something else to think about maybe?
And it is inexpensive, but it is not a ready made program. I have heard very high reports of it on a parent list of multisensory reading program users. (I’ve been off it awhile, so don’t recall.)
Anyway, they really recommended a book called “How to Teach Spelling”, and available thru eps (www.epsbooks.com), and is about $28.
It is Orton based, which means that the sequence and orthography taught is basically Orton. (So is AVKO, I think).
Tells you what, how much to teach at each grade level (don’t see why this couldn’t work in a non-graded situation, but you just teach things consequetively and not out of sequence. Also includes sight words, spelling words, dictation, etc. The beauty of it in your case, is you only teach what you child doesn’t know, and could just skip over anythign that she can now do. They do have books for each grade (1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-12), but I haven’t heard anythign about these. They are nicely priced though, and they are great about sending samples.
—des
I have seen Spelling Through Morphograph sets go for about $70 on eBay. The older version (single volume for teacher’s guide in dark blue or black) works very well; it doesn’t have to be the newer edition. You didn’t mention the age of your child or grade level. Spelling Through Morphographs works well for middle school grades and higher. I’m not sure it would work as well for elementary grade levels.
Sequential Spelling for Adults Only might work. It goes through the patterns much faster than the six-book series, there are more words per lesson, and the words are harder. I have heard of this program working well for teens, but don’t know anyone who has tried it with a younger student.
Nancy