Filled with challenging vocabulary, interesting exercises, and engaging themes, this colorful spelling series focuses on carefully selected, high-frequency, high-interest words while incorporating relevant Scripture verses, Bible stories, and moral principles. It approaches spelling from three different angles: phonetically, visually, and semantically. In the lower two grades, the program concentrates on phonetic principles, progressing from short vowel constructs to words with long vowels, consonant digraphs, and vowel digraphs. Third grade continues with r-controlled vowels, vowel digraphs, silent letters, and other phonetic clusters. Once basic phonetic constructs are covered, the emphasis switches to the visual-memory technique of spelling. Words that are spelled according to phonetic rule are easy to spell, and ACSI spelling recognizes that “most spelling errors are associated with the over-application of basic phonics principles.” Recognition of visual patterns is important in accurate spelling; students should begin to discover spelling errors when words don’t “look” right, according to normal visual patterns. In 5th and 6th grades, the emphasis is on understanding semantic relationships, with attention given to affixes and roots (you can see that knowing “sign” is related to “signal” and “signature” would help with its spelling!). Some proofing and editing exercises also appear in the last book of the series. The number of words per lesson begins with 12 in grade one, and progresses to 30 by sixth grade. There are 36 lessons, with about four pages per lesson, estimated to take about 75 minutes per week. Grades one through three use regular manuscript printing (ball and stick), switching to traditional cursive in the fourth grade. Teacher’s editions are useful, containing an explanation of the program’s philosophy and implementation, reduced student pages, answers to exercises, and blackline masters.

Customer Reviews

 
Emily C. from Jefferson, Ia wrote the following on 02/20/2006:
Colorful and creative, simple, short lessons that use Biblical concepts, I loved this book from the moment I opened it. I will definitely use this series on a yearly basis.

 
Emily C. from Jefferson, Ia wrote the following on 02/20/2006:
Colorful and creative, simple, short lessons that use Biblical concepts, I loved this book from the moment I opened it. I will definitely use this series on a yearly basis.

 
Lorri G. from Iowa wrote the following on 10/05/2007:
Finally! A spelling program with words that are challenging enough to keep my 5th and 6th grade girls interested! This book really rounded out our language arts curriculum last year. It is possible to use it without the teacher's manual -- we did so due to budget constraints, and simply skipped the few items that needed more explanation -- although I'm sure that having the manual would add to the learning experience. We like the Bible verses and applications sprinkled throughout the books, and my daughters liked the frequent writing assignments giving them opportunity to express their opinions and feelings. I was concerned that I might "miss" something in my teaching, although English is my best subject. This book gives me a sigh of relief, as it covers everything I ever remember learning about phonetic spellings, syllables, homophones, all the "nyms", contractions, prefixes and suffixes, exceptions to rules... yep, it's all there! I can sit back and relax, knowing they are getting a thorough lesson. (Or, maybe go and clean up the mess my toddler made while we were doing math.) If your children like variety and you are a pick-and-choose homeschooler, this book is a good choice. Combine with your favorite grammar book, add a little creative writing, visit the library, and you will have your bases covered for primary language arts.