ABC and 123: A Learning Collaborative: Words, Words, Words: Spelling

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Words, Words, Words: Spelling

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The following review was originally posted at A Listmaker's Life on March 9, 2009

How many of us, as adults, admit to having trouble with spelling? I, for one, am often checking and re-checking my spelling. Correct spelling does not come naturally for all learners. It takes practice. Thank goodness for this new & unique spelling software available for my budding readers & writers!

Vocabulary & Spelling Review Made Easy

Learning Objective:
Students of all ages, ability levels, and school programs will improve their spelling skills as they work toward mastery of their individualized lists, according to the requirements of any spelling curriculum their school might use.

Materials:
~Computer
~SpellQuizzer: Spelling Software - a FREE trial is available for download

Instructions:
1. Import pre-made spelling lists or add your child's individualized lists into this spelling software. By using silly voices to record word prompts the spelling quiz becomes even more engaging.
2. Work with your child the first time through to help them understand the features of SpellQuizzer. Helpful tips on software features pop up each time you begin.
3. Let your child work independently to work through the spelling lists they are practicing.
4. Encourage & watch with excitement as your child masters their spelling lists without the arguements that ensue from having a parent do the quizzing!

Features & Benefits:
~SpellQuizzer is user friendly & easy to manage
~The program compliments any spelling curriculum
~Built-in spellchecking recognizes US & UK English spellings. This helps to ensure that all words are entered & practiced correctly.
~Grade level specific lists are included in the program & additional thematic lists with pre-recorded sound are available to import.
~Word lists can easily be exported to other SpellQuizzer users.

As you know, my children are quite young and not necessarily ready for formal spelling instruction. However, the teacher in me was sure to find adaptations to make this spelling program useful for our situation. Here are some of the extension activities I came up with that would be appropriate for students at many different levels.

Extension Activities:
~Pre-record lists of simple words your young children will recognize. Prompt them to find the initial consonant sound of the words they hear. When they have mastered initial sounds ask for ending sounds.
~Create a lists of important numbers your child must memorize. Prompt them to enter with cues such as "What number will you dial in an emergency?" "What is our house number? ...phone number?...your birthday? etc." SpellQuizzer provides an interactive method for reviewing these important numbers.
~Make a list of family names for your child to practice spelling correctly.
~Practice opposites by recording prompts such as "up, big, tall" and requiring the answers "down, small, short."
~Record definitions of new words and prompt your child to come up with the appropriate terms as a vocabulary exercise.

As you can see SpellQuizer is a spelling program with many capabilities for engaging students, at all levels, as they go about the business of learning!

SpellQuizzer has generously offered a program license to one of our readers.
To be entered into this giveaway please leave your comment on this post. We will randomly choose 1 winner by Friday!

7 comments:

  1. Wonderful giveaway as usual!!! You guys have such creative ways of learning
    Be sure to check out my blog today - I have giveaway going on too.

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  2. This would be a great tool. Thanks for sharing.

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  3. that sounds really cool! my oldest is a spelling whiz kid!

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  4. awesome! might as well get them started early ;)

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  5. o - o - pick me, my boys do so well at spelling and this would be a great tool for the summer so they don't forget all they have learned this year. Great giveaway!

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  6. This sounds like a great tool for our homeschool!

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