Why don't the words used follow grade levels?
The word
scatter
is a
7th grade
word in our school's regular spelling program.
What is it doing in Sequential Spelling 1?
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
scatter,
AVKO teaches it only after the
-at
sound has been taught in 30 different words.
After the -atter
sound has occurred in eight words, and directly
after the initial c
in
cat
and the consonant blend
sc in
scat,
then and only then do we teach
scatter.
Nearly every student gets it right the very
first time.
Why
does Sequential Spelling contain so many
words such as the word
tat that are
outside the vocabulary of normal adults?
We don't
believe it hurts anyone, even a child, to learn
a new word. But that is not why we use the word
tat. We use the word
tat as an added
practice in sounding out spellings of words
having the initial /t/ sound
and practice in spelling the ending rime
-at. 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
the teacher count off for sloppy spelling?
Since the students 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 or AVKO's own
manuscript (See
Let's Write Right).
But whatever system of handwriting your school
system may require, we believe that writing must
be legible. So yes, by all means, take off for
sloppy handwriting. The only exceptions would
be for those who have a physical disability and
insufficient small motor skills to write
legibly.
Where
should I start? I'm working with 5th
graders. Do I start with Sequential Spelling 5?
No. Unless your students
have been exposed to Sequential Spelling before,
you should start them with Sequential Spelling 1
or maybe even Sequential Spelling 2.
Do
I give my students the words to study?
Only if you feel you
must. We have found that students 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.
How
many books do I need for my classroom?
Just one. AVKO would love
it if you bought one for every student. But
that's not necessary. One student record book
for each student 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 students 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.
Are the AVKO
Sequential Spelling books,
Christian
spelling books?
I'm not sure that there is really such a thing
as Christian spelling. There's correct spelling
and there's incorrect spelling. Does the author
happen to be Christian? Yes. Does AVKO work
with Christian home school groups? Yes. Will
AVKO work with Jewish, Buddhist, Moslem, Hindu,
non-denominational groups? Yes.
My school is considering adopting Sequential
Spelling. What grade should we start using it
and what levels for the grades?
The end result of adoption
would be using Sequential Spelling 1 in the
second grade, 2 in the third, etc. However, as
the upper levels of Sequential Spelling are
comparatively difficult, we recommend the in the
1st year, Sequential Spelling 1 is used in the
second and third grades. Sequential Spelling 2
in the fourth and fifth grades. Sequential
Spelling 3 in the sixth, seventh and 8th grades.
In year 2, Sequential
Spelling 1 in the 2nd grade, Sequential Spelling
2 in the 3rd grade, Sequential Spelling 3 in the
4th and 5th grades, Sequential Spelling 4 in the
6th, 7th, and 8th grades.
In year 3 Sequential
Spelling 1 in the 2nd grade, Sequential Spelling
2 in the 3rd grade, Sequential Spelling 3 in the
4th grade, Sequential Spelling 4 in the 5th and
6th grades, Sequential Spelling 5 in the 7th and
8th grades.
In year 4 Sequential
Spelling 1 in the 2nd grade, Sequential Spelling
2 in the 3rd grade, Sequential Spelling 3 in the
4th grade, Sequential Spelling 4 in the 5th
grade, Sequential Spelling 5 in the 6th grade,
Sequential Spelling 6 in the 7th and 8th grades.