Purposeful Design Spelling Plus - Grade 6 Teacher Edition

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 23 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 online access to downloadable files including blackline masters, transparencies and posters. TEs are available both in a hardcopy version and as an e-book (one-year subscription). (Some of our current stock will still include a CD with these files, but new inventory will have a URL to download these.)

The 3rd Edition (2019) of this excellent spelling program, sporting updated graphics and appearance, is still filled with challenging vocabulary, interesting exercises, and engaging themes. The colorful spelling series from a Christian publisher focuses on carefully selected, high-frequency, high-interest words. Over the course of the series, spelling is approached from three different angles: phonetically, visually, and semantically. The lower grades concentrate on phonetic principles, covering and reviewing them thoroughly. Since recognition of visual patterns is also important in accurate spelling, students should begin to discover spelling errors when words don't "look" right, according to normal visual patterns. There is increased emphasis on this in the middle grades. The upper grades emphasize understanding semantic relationships, with attention given to affixes and roots. Some proofing and editing exercises also appear in the last book of the series.

  There are 36 chapters, with four pages per lesson (and additional blackline masters, available in the Teacher Edition), estimated to take about 75 minutes per week. The number of words per lesson begins with 10 in Grade 1 and progresses to 23 by Grade 6. Lessons follow a weekly pattern: Day 1, pretests; Day 2, phonics review; Day 3, word study; Day 4, writing extensions, and Day 5, a posttest. Every sixth chapter reviews the words from the previous five. Grades 1 and 2 use regular manuscript printing, grade 3 and up show the wordlists in cursive on the second and fourth days. Student Editions are colorful worktexts. Both Student and Teacher books have handwriting models, a pronunciation key, and spelling dictionary in the back. A series of pages also provides lines for writing words grouped according to initial letter which can become the student's personal spelling dictionary for the year. Teacher Editions are useful, containing an explanation of the program's philosophy and implementation, reduced student pages (with answers), differentiated instruction, suggestions for enrichment and extension activities, and online access to the downloadable blackline masters and digital color masters. The student worktexts have minimal religious content (short prayer on back cover and occasional Scripture references). The TEs provide unit devotions and extension activities with religious themes. Student books - 181 pgs, pb. Teacher Editions - 191 pgs, hardcover, spiral bound, 10"x 14". ~ Janice