Important note: Levels C-G have been revised for 2025, and the revised edition is replacing the previous edition. The 2025 edition of Spelling You See is not compatible with the previous edition.
The Spelling You See methodology employs chunking (identifying and color-marking letter combinations) in a real-life informative passage to identify the spelling rules in words. Copywork and then dictation solidify the word’s visual picture and send it to long-term memory. All levels feature 36 weekly lessons each, providing daily activities for five days. Weekly reading selections, special activities, and writing exercises all promote the book’s specific theme. The consistency and repetition of the Spelling You See daily work coupled with reading the words in context builds visual memory.
Spelling You See targets their levels to five developmental stages of spelling. Stage I is Preliterate; students are learning about the printed page and the flow of reading material based on their literary environment. Stage II, Phonetic, is an auditory stage where students become able to distinguish the individual sounds that make up spoken words. Stage III, Skill Development, is learning effective ways to deal with the phonics exceptions. Repetition over several years is necessary at this stage. In Stage IV, Word Extension, the focus is on syllables, prefixes and suffixes. Lastly, Stage V, Derivational Constancy, looks for word root patterns. Organized around these developmental stages rather than grade levels, placement in the series should, therefore, be based upon the readiness guidelines listed for each course.
Instructor Handbooks include a program overview, placement guidelines, detailed lesson plans, a complete answer key, and links to online teacher resource supplements. Chunking, highlighting, and copying the passage make up the activities for the first three days of each week. The third day often incorporates an additional activity: perhaps exercises, perhaps composition. The last two days are reserved for dictation (the same passage but written from hearing it read out loud). Dictation days are skill building days rather than tests. The student is encouraged to write a word several times to see which way looks right (to catch sloppy copy).
The new 2025 Edition (levels C-G) also includes a Daily Huddle Activity, encouraging parent engagement along with new videos that provide extra teacher support. The Student Packs include the two Student Workbooks which provide ample space for all of the written work (with perforated pages for easy removal). The Sets at each level contain the full-color Student Workbooks and an Instructor's Handbook. You will also need a quality set of colored pencils.
The program is also no longer sold as a Universal Set, so you will need to purchase a Set or purchase the Instructor Guide plus the Student Pack. We will have remaining inventory on the previous edition only while our current quantities last.