Spelling You See Level A: Listen and Write Instructor's Handbook

The "SpellingYouSee" program from Demme Learning is a unique, research-based homeschool spelling curriculum with five levels that follow the developmental stages of language development. Developed by Dr. Karen Holinga, this program allows students to develop spelling skills naturally and at their own pace with the direction and encouragement of the instructor. Relying upon visual memory that's built through repeated reading and repeated writing, students will learn spelling through short daily activities that integrate copywork, reading, speaking, and listening, rather than relying on rote memorization for weekly tests. Spelling You See Level A: Listen and Write is designed for young students as they move from the Preliterate Stage to the Phonetic Stage (see the More Information [PDF] for an explanation of each stage). Following stages, not grade level, this level is for a beginning reader who is still learning letter names and sounds and how to hold a pencil properly when writing. When determining placement, these are questions to ask: Can my student focus on a worksheet for at least 10 minutes? Can my student identify most of the letters of the alphabet? Can my student write letters? Can my student write fairly comfortably? Does my student understand that letters make sounds? If you answered "Yes" to all these questions, your child is ready to begin Listen and Write. Listen and Write will provide lots of practice in writing individual letters and in hearing the sounds they make in simple words. This course relies upon teacher instruction and the (sold-separately) Listen and Write Student Workbook cannot be completed without this instructor's handbook. It features the philosophy and overview for the program, frequently asked questions, as well as short instructions for each lesson. This is followed by daily dictation lists needed for students to complete their work and general dictation lists with words arranged by phonetic principles.