Just got it yesterday.... (Classical Sources Message Board)

Just got it yesterday....
Author: KC	September 26, 1999 at 05:27:00
in reply to: IEW Spelling Resource* posted by donna on September 15, 1999 at 09:01:48*

...and have only looked over it briefly. My dilemma is seeing if I can mesh this with Phono-Graphix (Reading Reflex) principles, and I believe I can. I know my kids will LOVE the animal theme...my daughter (9yo) saw me open the box and couldn't wait to go through all the cards.
Here's what I can tell you in a nutshell (but can't answer "if it is worth it"...it *IS* rather expensive, and probably Spelling Power, for only $49 (K-12) is more "worth" your money. Even Andrew Pudewa told me that SP was a much more complete list of words and in effect would "work well in conjunction" with EIW, doing the method of IEW with the word lists of SP...but do we REALLY *need* both?? (no).
The spelling program comes in 3 levels A, B, C. You get a set of "flash cards" that contain all the "rules" (about 47) of spelling. Each of these 47 cards has the matching "animal name" that demonstrates the "rule" at ALL THREE LEVELS. (So, there is one set of flash cards sufficient for all 3 levels. I don't know if when you buy a successive level it might be a bit cheaper because you would already own the set). What makes this spelling program expensive is that it comes with a set of 5 CDs (audio...not CDRom for computer). I think the reason Andrew must have chosen CD over audio cassettes (which would have been cheaper) is probably so that the child can immediately go to and locate different sections. That is only my guess.
Anyway, the CD's contain the lists of words from each of these 47 lessons. The child sits down with a headphone set (you must have a CD player and headphones!) and goes through that lessons' words. He will write them to mastery (100%) twice before going on to the next lesson. Every 5th lesson is an opportunity to work on "personal" words...misspelled words from dictations, journals, writing assignments. He of course doesn't have them on CD, but will progress through them in the same way as the other lessons.
I hope I haven't oversimplifed this...but on the surface it DOES look pretty simple. It does seem to be very similar to Spelling Power in that the lists are organized according to spelling "rules"; SP has a multitude of activities to go with it whereas IEW's method seems to be simply repetition in hearing/writing the words.
Haven't made a decision on whether or not I'm keeping it....I know the kids will love the animals...but we could all have our kids write repetitions of their lists of words to mastery without buying the program. Oh dear, I'm sure I've not helped any of you!

KC

Follow Ups

Re: Just got it yesterday.... Donna 10:52:05 10/1/1999 (0)
Oh well...I've decided to send it back. KC 05:34:32 9/29/1999 (2)
- Re: Oh well...I've decided to send it back. Patti 09:30:52 10/1/1999 (1)
  - Donna and Patty...see above under Angela's original post...NT KC 07:08:48 10/2/1999 (0)

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> ...and have only looked over it briefly. My dilemma is seeing if I can mesh this with Phono-Graphix (Reading Reflex) principles, and I believe I can. I know my kids will LOVE the animal theme...my daughter (9yo) saw me open the box and couldn't wait to go through all the cards. > Here's what I can tell you in a nutshell (but can't answer "if it is worth it"...it IS rather expensive, and probably Spelling Power, for only $49 (K-12) is more "worth" your money. Even Andrew Pudewa told me that SP was a much more complete list of words and in effect would "work well in conjunction" with EIW, doing the method of IEW with the word lists of SP...but do we REALLY need both?? (no). > The spelling program comes in 3 levels A, B, C. You get a set of "flash cards" that contain all the "rules" (about 47) of spelling. Each of these 47 cards has the matching "animal name" that demonstrates the "rule" at ALL THREE LEVELS. (So, there is one set of flash cards sufficient for all 3 levels. I don't know if when you buy a successive level it might be a bit cheaper because you would already own the set). What makes this spelling program expensive is that it comes with a set of 5 CDs (audio...not CDRom for computer). I think the reason Andrew must have chosen CD over audio cassettes (which would have been cheaper) is probably so that the child can immediately go to and locate different sections. That is only my guess. > Anyway, the CD's contain the lists of words from each of these 47 lessons. The child sits down with a headphone set (you must have a CD player and headphones!) and goes through that lessons' words. He will write them to mastery (100%) twice before going on to the next lesson. Every 5th lesson is an opportunity to work on "personal" words...misspelled words from dictations, journals, writing assignments. He of course doesn't have them on CD, but will progress through them in the same way as the other lessons. > I hope I haven't oversimplifed this...but on the surface it DOES look pretty simple. It does seem to be very similar to Spelling Power in that the lists are organized according to spelling "rules"; SP has a multitude of activities to go with it whereas IEW's method seems to be simply repetition in hearing/writing the words. > Haven't made a decision on whether or not I'm keeping it....I know the kids will love the animals...but we could all have our kids write repetitions of their lists of words to mastery without buying the program. Oh dear, I'm sure I've not helped any of you! > > KC
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