Provides 180 sequenced spelling
tests. Words are sequenced vertically during a single lesson as in:
| Lesson 5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| press |
|
|
|
| impress |
|
|
|
| compress |
|
|
|
| decompress |
|
|
|
| oppress |
|
|
|
| express |
|
|
|
| stress |
|
|
|
| assess |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Words are sequenced horizontally during a five day week as in:
| Lesson 5 |
Lesson 6 |
Lesson 7 |
Lesson 8 |
|
|
|
|
| express |
expressed |
expressive |
expression |
|
|
|
|
Students correct their own spellings immediately after each word is
given.
Students quickly begin to learn all the troublesome blends and
structural endings.
Each lesson has cross references to The Patterns of English Spelling and to
Word Families in Sentence Context.
Homophones are presented when they occur. In the third lesson the
words passed and guessed are presented. Their homophones past
and guest are noted for the teacher's optional enrichment.
"Insane" words or "outlaws" such as beauty
and beautiful are slipped into the program and presented many,
many times so that mastery is achieved.
-
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why don't the words used follow grade levels? The word
misinformation
is a 10th grade word in the spelling
curriculum we have been using.
What is it doing in Sequential Spelling 3?
ANSWER: Regular spelling texts,
as a general rule, pick grade levels for words according to when the specific words first
begin to occur in the regular subject matter curriculum. This would seem to make
sense, but it does bring about some rather odd sequences. Since the word ice may not
occur in the curriculum until the 4th grade when it appears in the science class, its
introduction is delayed until that time. Note that in one spelling series the word nice
occurs in the 1st grade, twice in the 2nd grade, price
in the 5th, and rice in the 6th. AVKO believes in teaching
all the ice words in the same unit.
Regarding the word misinformation, AVKO
teaches it only after the o-r-m sound has been taught
in 33 different words. After the -ation sound
has occurred in four words, and directly after the word information
, then and only then do we teach misinformation.
Nearly every student gets this fourteen letter word right the very first time.
- Why does Sequential Spelling contain so many words such as the word
vend
that are outside the vocabulary of normal elementary school children?
We don't believe
it hurts anyone, even a child, to learn a new word. But that is not why we use the
word vend. We use the word vend
as an added practice in sounding out spellings of words having the initial /v/ sound
and practice in spelling the ending rime -end. It also
gives the student a pleasant surprise and ego boost when he discovers he can spell a word
that he believes he has never heard nor seen before just because he knows how to spell the
sounds.
Should I count off for sloppy spelling?
Since your children get to correct their own spelling, they should be
expected to write clearly and legibly. In fact, we recommend that these sequential
spelling tests be used for handwriting practice because the patterns, being repetitive,
can be a help in developing legible handwriting. We further recommend that if your
students print, that they use D'Nealian® manuscript, Getty-Dubay Italic or AVKO's own manuscript (See Let's Write Right). But
whatever system of handwriting you use, we believe that writing
must be legible. So yes, by all means, take off for sloppy handwriting. The
only exceptions would be if you have a child with a physical disability and insufficient small
motor skills to write legibly.
Where should I start? I
have a child in 2nd Grade, a child in 4th Grade and One in 6th. Do I
start each one of them with a different Sequential Spelling such as 2, 4,
and 6?
No. Unless your children have been exposed to Sequential Spelling
before, you should start them all with Sequential Spelling 1. You can
always move your older students along faster if you wish.
Do I give my children the words to study?
Only if you feel you must. We have found that children prefer not
having to study and that when they correctly spell words that they haven't studied, their
self-confidence about spelling begins to zoom.
How do I give grades?
If you must give grades based upon performance, there are pretests and
posttests for every 60 day period. AVKO prefers that grades NOT be
given. We prefer that children learn that learning to spell is what is
important, not the grades on tests. One A does not a good speller
make. One E does not a bad speller make.
How many books do I need for my
children?
Just one. AVKO would love it if you bought one for every
child. But that's not necessary. One student record book for each
child
would be very, very convenient and we do recommend that. However, by using one
student response book as a model, you can create your own model for your
children to make
from spiral notebooks.
Can I give more than one test a day or repeat the same test later in the
day?
Why not? You're the teacher. You know your kids better than we
do. The important thing is to have fun with the tests. Help your students
overcome their fears of making mistakes. They'll love you for it.
Return to Sequential Spelling 1-7
All donations are greatly appreciated. If you would like to
support our mission which is to raise the level of literacy to the point where the words,
illiteracy, phonemic awareness, learning disabilities, dysgraphia, family literacy, adult
literacy, and illegible handwriting will no longer have relevance, please mail your
tax-deductible check (in U.S. dollars) to The AVKO Foundation, 3084 Willard Road, Suite
W, Birch Run, MI 48415-9404. The AVKO Foundation is recognized by the IRS as a 501(C)3
publicly supported organization working with teachers, parents, tutors, and home schooling
parents, publishing materials developed by its research, and providing free daily tutoring
at its local reading clinic.
If you have comments about this website or questions concerning
spelling, invented spelling, whole language, phonics, learning disabilities,
homeschooling, etc., you may always
e-mail DonMcCabe@aol.com. We
appreciate any comments that will help us make this website even more useful.
- Call: Toll Free 1-866-285-6612
Fax: (810) 686-1101
E-mail: Webmaster: avkoemail@aol.com
or Write:
Don McCabe,
Research Director
- AVKO Educational Research Foundation
3084 Willard Road, Suite W
Birch Run, MI 48415-9404
|