What Makes AVKO’s Sequential Spelling Program Different:

What Makes AVKO’s Sequential Spelling Program Different:

Traditional Spelling Program Gives the child a list of words to study (and he forgets them after the test at the end of the week). Tests the child on individual words. The tests are corrected by the teacher/parent with the looming red ink pen—after the tests are done. The rules of the English language are presented in dry, hard-to-understand ways outside of the spelling program. The overall emphasis is on a grade for one week over one set of words. The emphasis is on a theme of words (colors). The sequencing of the words may be due to introduction of words into the curriculum, instead of the relative difficulty. There may be a guilt reaction when the child studies but doesn’t do well on the test on Friday.

Sequential Spelling The child doesn’t study anything (he remembers the patterns used to spell the words—even after the test). Tests the child on patterns of the English language. The child corrects his own paper as he is taking the test immediately. The rules of the English language are embedded in the program, without lengthy explanations. The emphasis is on learning the patterns of spelling for mastery of the language. The emphasis is on the meanings of the words (root words, suffixes). The sequencing of the words is based on research and the building of English words from the root word to expanded forms. The child builds confidence when he can spell words he has never seen before without studying.

Although AVKO does not present rules in its Sequential Spelling and other spelling materials (they are rather embedded in the program so that the children can pick them up automatically), we have materials available for parents and teachers to be able to teach the rules if they so desire.

www.avko.org www.spelling.org