Welcome to RainbowResource.com — Learning Tools for Homes and Schools Serving Home Educators Since 1989

Homeschool teachers will go to great lengths to help their students overcome difficulties. Take Beverly Adams-Gordon, for example. An engineer and Montessori teacher, she left her teaching job to homeschool in an effort to solve her youngest daughter’s severe spelling problems. Finding no suitable material, she thoroughly researched the subject and developed her own spelling curriculum. So what’s different?

• It’s all in one book. One purchase for all years for all kids.
• A chapter on research details the most effective methods of spelling instruction.
• Complete instructions for introducing, implementing and evaluating the program. Directions are given for adapting to different learning styles and ages.
• The program takes only 15 minutes/day.
• Extensive Word Lists are based on research done after 1979 of most frequently used and misspelled words. Word lists used in most other programs are based on lists created in 1915 or 1947. Two lists are provided, with 5,000 and 12,000 words, respectively.
• General and specific placement tests start each student right where he needs to be.
• Program is based on phonics and spelling rules, not phonics alone.
• Review is built into the program which uses a “spiral” approach (repeated and spaced review) similar to the approach Saxon takes in it’s problem sets.
• Directions for over 100 games and activities are included which concentrate on specific skills and make spelling more interesting. Most are individual or partner games, but some can be played by up to 6 players.

Now available in its 4th edition, Spelling Power retains all of its award-winning effective procedures, but it’s more user-friendly with larger type and more graphics. Easier to read and less intimidating, there is also improved organization of resources.

The book comes in a standard-bound version but is now also available in a loose-leaf edition, which has identical pages but is 3-hole punched and ready to slip into a 2” binder.

The 4th edition Spelling Power package includes both the Teacher’s Resource CD-ROM, first introduced in the 10th anniversary edition, and an updated Quick Start DVD seminar.

The Quick Start DVD provides a personal step-by-step introduction to using the Spelling Power program featuring author Beverly Adams-Gordon who explains each step as "real" homeschool moms and students demonstrate. The Teacher’s Resource CD-ROM includes printable forms, searchable word lists, charts, printable Activity Task Cards, bonus activities, and the Digital Spelling Tutor.

The Digital Spelling Tutor CD-ROM is also available separately, and it allows you to create spelling lists for multiple children, offers learning, drill and testing activities, tracks several children’s progress, allows you to create and print progress reports, and can be used with any spelling word list. Please note that this program is included in the Teacher’s Resource CD-ROM that is included in the 4th edition, but we sell the program separately if you wish to use with an older edition of Spelling Power.

The most thorough coverage of spelling that we’ve seen. This one’s a “classic.”

Customer Reviews

 
Julie V. from Southwestern Minnesota wrote the following on 02/26/2007:
Spelling programs were a constant frustration for us until a friend told me about Spelling Power. It has been the answer to all of my difficulties in teaching several different ages of students and with different learning abilities. It also is much less time-consuming than traditional spelling programs. My children (and I) enjoy being completely done with their spelling in only 15 minutes per day (which includes their study time). They go at their own pace, and yet make real progress. The pressure of testing is off since the goal of this program is only to teach your children the words they really don't know, not force them to study the words they already spell correctly. A typical day goes something like this: I tell the child which group he is in, give him the phonics rule for that group, and then tell him that he will not be getting any words 'wrong', but that I will be asking him words to see if he already can spell them. Each word is spelled immediately to my child when he is done writing it, so there is feedback right away. I test only for five minutes, or until about three words are not spelled correctly, whichever comes first. (Usually they beg me to go on further!) The few, if any, words that they did not know are the only ones that they study, and there is a specific way they are studied so that all learning styles will understand it. The book has placement testing so that you don't have to guess the right place to start your child. They use the word "level" rather than "grade" so if your child is behind in spelling, they will not have to be embarrassed about that. The teacher's manual is built into the book. I found the teacher's manual to be overwhelming at first, but I went through the "Quick Start" method that they have in there, and easily caught on to the program with that. Although I initially was fairly reluctant to spend so much money on a spelling program, I can say it was well worth it, and paid for itself quickly. One book will work for approx 2nd or 3rd grade all the way until they graduate and it only takes one book per family. This program was the total answer for us, and I couldn't be happier with it.

 
Michelle P. from Massachusetts wrote the following on 07/12/2007:
We bought the Spelling Power program since it came highly recommended by the book "100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum". We thought this would make a nice addition to our curriculum as we had recently made major changes. Our daughter (10 years old), really likes the program. It is very easy to do the three five-minute steps and she doesn't feel overwhelmed. The program even includes a DVD to explain everything without having to read the whole manual. After the initial viewing of the DVD it makes it very easy to jump into the lessons each day without a lot of preparation. The program is designed to be used from first grade through adulthood. So, in view of that I thought the price was well worth it, and I wish that I had purchased it back in first grade!

 
Christine H. from Round Rock, Texas wrote the following on 12/13/2007:
I am very pleased with the Spelling Power program. I am impressed with the amount of research that went into it and how simple it is to use each day. I am using an older edition without the benefit of the DVD, but with the Quick Start section was able to begin with only a little preparation. My second and fourth grade boys like that spelling is predictably short and sweet, without tedious worksheets to complete. They enjoy the success each day when they spell so many words correctly, knowing they won't have to study them again. I love that we are studying words based on their frequency of usage/spelling rules. It really makes me feel we're being efficient and effective in our use of school time.

 
Lisa W. from Virginia wrote the following on 07/07/2008:
I turned to Spelling Power after years of frustration in teaching my daughter to spell using another curriculum. It took some time to read through the teacher's portion of the book, but it is essential for understanding the program. I liked the fact that my daughter started at just the right level for her. We both loved that it took only 15 minutes a day and that she was only tested on what she didn't know. By the end of the first year, her spelling scores went up three grade levels on her standardized testing. I will be using the program with both my daughter and son this year. The book was worth the investment!

 
Kelly E. from Henderson, Nevada wrote the following on 09/10/2008:
There are a lot of steps in this program. I don't think I have mastered them yet. But we have been doing this program for about one month now and it seems to be going well. I have twins that are at different levels, so it is nice to have a spelling program that can help both of them. I also like the fact that they can do some of the work on their own. I don't have to hover. I know if they know it when I re-test them the next day. I would recommend this product.

 
Lindsey A. from Northwest wrote the following on 12/26/2008:
This program is spectacular! Its focus is on the words your child does not know how to spell, so you don't waste time teaching the ones they already spell correctly. It is wonderful to have one book that you can use through all grades, and the format makes it easy to teach multiple levels. The best part is that my children like spelling now-- that speaks volumes about a program! I highly recommend considering this program.