There is no shortage of spelling curriculums available to homeschoolers. You may be wondering why Demme Learning decided to provide yet another option. Here are some of the ways that Spelling You See is unique.

Spelling You See is Research-Based

Many years of study have confirmed that children progress through developmental stages of spelling, and it is necessary to master one stage before moving on to the next. Spelling You See recognized these steps and provided plenty of practice for each stage. Because the books are not graded, students may comfortably begin at the level that fits their stage of development.

It Begins with Phonics but Trains the Visual Memory as Well

A knowledge of phonics is critical when learning to read and is also important in the beginning stages of spelling. However, young spellers often reach a point where memorizing all the different ways to spell the same sound becomes unhelpful. Spelling You See recognizes this and provided other techniques to help students on to the next levels of spelling.

Spelling is Taught in a Meaningful Context

The first level of Spelling You See and the beginning of the second level focus on phonics, and students write individual words by sound. Beginning in the second level, words are also studied in the context of a meaningful passage – first nursery rhymes and later nonfiction passages about animals or history. Words presented in context are much more likely to become part of a student’s long-term memory.

Colors Are Used to Reinforce Spelling Patterns

The process of “chunking” or marking different letter patterns with different colors stimulates the visual memory and helps students retain a visual image of the word.

Multiple Activities Are Used to Train the Brain

In the course of a week, the student will read the passage, mark the letter patterns, and copy the passage multiple times. Finally, the passage is written from dictation. All of these activities train the brain to notice detail and help to move the correct spelling into the long-term memory. These activities engage multiple senses, in keeping with Demme Learning’s foundational principle of multi-sensory instruction.

Lessons are Short and Easy

The activities for each day are designed to be easy to complete, and most students find the process of marking the latter patterns enjoyable. No more than 10 minutes a day should be spent on copywork or dictation. Instructors are also encouraged to offer students as much help as is needed. The dictation is not a test, but an opportunity to celebrate how many words were spelled correctly in that week’s passage.

Spelling You See Books are Attractive and Interesting

The passages are written to appeal to student interest, and colorful original artwork enhances each story. The workbooks are designed to make learning attractive and enjoyable.