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After taking a look at this well-organized program that teaches spelling by word families, it’s not surprising that we’ve had so many requests for it. It has a very satisfying appeal. Imagine lists of words that are organized by word families but that go well beyond a simple vowel family (i.e. c-at; b-at; etc.) right from the start. Although the first day’s word list includes only four words - in, pin, sin, spin; by the third day, the “in” list has expanded to pinned, skins, twins (and other “in” words) and started on the “e” (i.e. b-e; sh-e) family and even includes a crossover word (begin). By building from the easier words of a family to important power words, the program builds self-confidence. Traditional spelling programs introduce words vocabularily - in other words, when the child is likely to encounter the word in reading, or based on a chosen theme. As a result, word sequences are odd and incomplete. In Sequential Spelling, the phonics necessary for decoding is being presented through the back door, so to speak.

Every learning channel is employed with this program. Here’s the process: a word is given verbally and used in a sentence (audio); the student attempts to spell the word (kinesthetic); the correct spelling is given using colored markers on a white board to differentiate between family and other letters (oral interaction & visual); students correct their own spelling (kinesthetic). Utilizing the simple educational techniques of having students correct their own mistakes when they make them - not hours, days, or even weeks later - and creating a positive learning environment by maintaining that mistakes are opportunities to learn produces eager learners and definitive results. Tests are used as learning devices, not as a method of evaluation. If you feel compelled to give grades, written tests (reproducible) are available after the 40th, 80th, 120th, 160th, and 180th days.

The first several days of lessons are laid out in detail - completely scripted. In addition to the teaching process, a positive can-do attitude is being modeled in these lessons. After the eighth day, the process is continued as established. Lists of 25 words along with sentence suggestions are provided for 180 days; with common words appearing in bold typing. Homophones (same pronunciation, different spelling; i.e. bare and bear), heteronyms (same spelling, different word and different pronunciation; i.e. bow your head, bow and arrow), and words that do not follow the normal pattern (like “gyp”) are all marked. Review and repetition is built in as you progress through the days (lists).

Books are progressive but do not really conform to grade levels. For instance, the ending lessons of Book 1 include words like breathless, hedging, horrifying, and basically which would never be seen in a first or second-grade spelling book. Because they are introduced as parts of word families, they become doable for the early grades, but this also means that an older child starting at Book 1 doesn’t feel like he’s way behind. (By the way, the parent is given complete freedom to drop some words from the lists if they feel it will be preferable for their child.) So, the bottom line is that you can start any grade level child at Level 1 and proceed through the books in order. It is recommended that children are reading at a second-grade level before beginning Level 1, so children in first grade may or may not be ready to begin, depending on their reading skill. Older children may or may not need to start with Book 1; you may want to check out the placement test at www.avko.org.

The Student Response Book for Sequential Spelling is designed to provide the writing space for students participating in the program. To look at it, you would scratch your head. The column for the 1st day words is in the middle of page 3 (with the 61st day on the left and the 121st day on the right). We don’t see the 2nd day column until page 5. This peculiar arrangement is designed to prevent the child from copying words and/or word family parts from one day to the next, a tendency which gets in the way of truly learning the pattern. Once you figure out the system, it makes perfect sense. Although a student will need one book per level, the response book is not level-specific.

This year the publishers have begun revising the Sequential Spelling series and have made a few format changes. In the revised editions, there is a teacher book and a student book; the Student Response Book is no longer needed. Both teacher and student are necessary at every level, however. The Teacher’s Guide holds introductory teaching information and an overview of the approach as well as all 180 word lists (and sentences for the homophones and heteronyms), and an answer key. The much-heftier Student Workbook holds pages with blank spaces for each day’s spelling lesson (in sequential order) and an additional activity on the following page that uses words from the lesson. Activities vary, including using words from the lesson in a sentence, unscrambling words, filling in blanks, writing the definition of words the student is not familiar with, and listing words that contain a particular word family (like ‘ake’). Please note that the revised editions will replace the older, “classic” editions which will eventually become unavailable. Levels 1-3 are available as revised editions now; others will follow shortly.

We now offer sets of the revised editions that include both student and teacher books and also sets of the classic editions which include the book and Student Response Book. ~ Janice

Customer Reviews

 
Debbie P. from Salt Lake City, UT wrote the following on 06/20/2007:
AVKO's spelling program removes the busy work associated with most spelling programs and uses what is helpful and useful for learning spelling patterns. We have tried so many different spelling programs, and this is finally the one I will be sticking with! I have children that pick up spelling easily, and others that think spell-check on a computer eliminates the need for learning any kind of spelling whatsoever -- though we know that is absolutely not true! There is quite a bit of repetition with the word lists, but this creates reinforcement, not monotony. They learn different patterns and spelling rules through the grouping of word lists. I used the program by giving the list to my child, and if they get them all correct we immediately move on to the next list the same day. When they misspell any words in a given list we review them and repeat it the next day. There is no workbook busy work that just takes up time rather than teaching spelling. There are suggestions for all kinds of learners -- auditory, visual, etc. I find that this type of spelling instruction translates to their other work much better than memorized lists from standard spelling programs. There is no teacher preparation necessary, and while I don't necessarily see that as a plus (I don't mind preparing when necessary as a home schooler) it does keep it simple and easy to use. Because we go at the pace of the child, either moving to the next list or stopping at a list that needs review, it is very easy to use with all age levels. I started in the same book for my elementary children as well as my junior higher. The older children moved at a faster pace, but it still worked very well and we didn't need a separate book for each child. Each book is a great value and lasts from one half to one year, depending on the spelling skill level of the child.

 
Laura L. from Greenville, SC wrote the following on 07/10/2007:
I think we have tried just about every spelling program or idea to learn spelling on the market for our daughter. Reluctantly I picked up Sequential Spelling while in the back of my mind thinking, "there is no way this will work either." Boy was I wrong! We used it last year and recently my daughter made the following comment, "Mom, that Sequential Spelling really works. I can remember how to spell words that I thought I'd never be able to spell! We're going to keep using it for school aren't we." I think that speaks for itself!

 
Natalie B. from North Texas wrote the following on 08/18/2007:
We started using Sequential Spelling this past year with 3 of our children. Our son has had some neurodevelopmental issues and had struggled with reading and spelling. He progressed very well with this program and enjoyed discovering the patterns in the word families. Our daughter is English as a second language and spent this past year learning to speak as well as write and read in English. We found that learning the word families was very helpful to her in understanding spelling as well as reading. This program works well for children with learning issues who need extra parent attention and who benefit from immediate correction of errors. We liked that the cost was not terribly high and we can use it with several ages at once. A naturally good speller would probably find this program too basic.

 
Nita N. from Ohio wrote the following on 02/27/2008:
We have finally found the right fit for our accelerated language oriented son in Sequential Spelling. Compared to other spelling programs that we've used I think that this program is uniquely suited for the quick learner like our son. I knew that we had the right fit after just 3 lessons. In the past we'd do week after week of lessons in which my son knew all the words. With Sequential Spelling we've found that we aren't wasting a week's time on learning words that he already knows. While there is little preparation necessary for the program I have found that I need to have previously read the lists to be sure that I know the meaning of all the words. Every so often a word slips in that I haven't come across. It was worth the cost. I really like the fact that the lists are non-consumable and can be used in the years to come for my younger children. My son really enjoys using the resource book and seeing the list of words he knows growing.

 
Carmen R. from Hillsboro, MO wrote the following on 04/14/2008:
My seventh grade daughter had struggled in spelling all through school. I had tried three programs, but all of them ended in frustration and tears. Her spelling in daily life was far below grade level. Sequential Spelling was one of the best finds for her in our school! It takes the simple concept of having the student write the same spelling patterns over and over, using different but similar words. Right away, she stopped crying through spelling, and within a few weeks, her spelling in her other writing was noticeably improved. We are at the end of the second book now, and her spelling is nearly grade level. She had some issues with reading as well, and this program helped her notice patterns and be able to read unfamiliar words. Highly recommended for struggling spellers!

 
Deidre W. from KY wrote the following on 03/23/2009:
Pros: Sequential Spelling is very easy to teach; no planning needed for mom. Mr. McCabe himself is very accessible. I emailed him several times before I purchased the program, and he always responded promptly and personally. Cons: Level 1 moved way too fast for my son, a struggling speller with dyslexia. The early lists were quite simple, but quickly progressed to more difficult words. Even though these words were forms of words already learned, they were too much for my son. He just didn't retain what we'd covered a few days previously. I know this program has helped many, but it just didn't work for us. A few weeks into it, my son became so frustrated, we were both ready to throw in the towel.

 
sally m. from wentzville, mo wrote the following on 08/29/2009:
Sequential Spelling has been a true blessing to our 10 year old. He was a late reader and had much difficulty spelling simple words. We started this program with three of our children (11,10, and 8 years)and their confidence and ability has soared (especially the 10 yr old). He looks forward to spelling everyday. I think this program works best if you do it just as they advise (correcting each word as you go along). A whiteboard is essential.

 
Amy U. from Nebraska wrote the following on 04/01/2010:
My 12-year old is the sort of child who doesn't naturally "see" spellings. We have spent 2 years in Sequential Spelling vol. 1 because I have often broken the lists into more than one session. Now we are nearing the end of the book and her improvement is remarkable. I am not using this course with my "natural speller" child because I think the repetition would be a real drag. But for a somewhat challenged speller, I highly recommend this!

 
Rebecca B. from springport, MI wrote the following on 08/19/2010:
They say, that if you are taught to read with phonics, then spelling should come naturally. That was not the case with either of my children. After trying numerous spelling curriculum, I discovered Sequential Spelling. Sure, I was skeptical at first, because the phonics method and spelling rule approach worked for me, but not my kids. Don McCabe, the author of Sequential Spelling, ensures that a child can spell, by learning spelling patterns and self-correcting missed spelled words immediately. My children have used level 1 and level 2, and I have noticed improvement with their spelling. Sequential Spelling first of all builds confidence, then forces the child to think about the words they are given to spell, through hearing, seeing, tracing, and speaking. He also reminds the student to focus on syllables, which I believe, is an important step to spelling. From a teaching standpoint I like that there are no preparations needed for daily lessons, and there are no studying of word lists. My children found that to be monotonous. Since using this curriculum, my kids are more relaxed in spelling class now, with higher concentration levels, so they are apt to do better with spelling. The 2010-2011 school year will be their third year using this program. Another thumbs up! It has been very helpful that you can use this series with multiple grade levels. I only need one book per year. This saves time and money. I plan to use all seven levels with my children. Thanks Rainbow Resource, for carrying a great and affordable product. Rebecca B.

 
Brianna L. from WA wrote the following on 11/25/2011:
My first grade son loves to spell! He tries to spell whole sentences out loud to me to keep secrets from the younger kids or just to see if I can keep up! Until last week though, he hated his spelling curriculum. It was busywork and he was bored! Even though Sequential Spelling recommends starting the first book in second grade, I gave it a shot. Now my son begs to do spelling. Everyday is a different spelling test with words that build on each other, and he gets immediate feedback on our little whiteboard easel. In a week he's gone from spelling 'in' to 'beginning'! I do about 8 words a day instead of the 25 that are listed since he is quite young for the program. Even though I am involved in reading each word and then writing the word correctly for him to see, it doesn't require all of my attention. I am completely able to multi-task. While I wait for him to write the word I can answer another child's question or get lunch started. I'm so pleased to see my son challenged and happily spelling!

 
Sheri H. from Auburn Hills, MI wrote the following on 05/02/2008:
Quite simply the best spelling program I've used for my children. My reluctant speller has had to admit the repetition has been the biggest help to improving her spelling skills.

 
Elizabeth H. from Huntsville, AL wrote the following on 06/10/2008:
The real power of Sequential Spelling is that for the first time, I have noticed that my children's spelling words have correctly transfered to their writing. To me, that is the point of a spelling program - to improve their writing!