Building Spelling Skills, Grade 1 Teacher Edition

I really like how the book is organized. A lot of the words are arranged by letter sounds, for example, pet, get, let, fed, red. It would be good for kids that are in home school or a good supplement for children in school. The only problem with the book is that it has no color. I find that my kids are more apt to do a worksheet if it looks interesting.

I am happy with the structure and content of this workbook and many of the other grade level books by this publisher; I used them in first and second grade with my son and plan to do the same with my daughter. I piece together my curriculum from lots of different sources, using this publisher as my primary source for geography, math, spelling and language. I will agree that there is some "busy work" that does not really help develop spelling skills, so we often skip those sections. I would also like a quarterly review/quiz activity to help reinforce things.

I like this book but the words in the spelling lists themselves are too easy! There are 30 weeks with a new list each week and my DD is probably at the level of Week 15 right now. Getting ready to purchase the 2nd grade book. This isn't the only spelling book I use--I also use the Barron's series, "101 Words Your Child Will Spell By the End of 1st Grade", which I absolutely love.

I use this series as the basis of my daughter's spelling curriculum. Though I would never use it as a stand alone curriculum. Alone it is boring "busy work", but busy work that I feel is necessary to reinforce her spelling skills with repetition, and visual recognition. I think it is vital to note that one reason I chose this series is the low amount of worksheets in the book. There are an average of 2-3 worksheets per spelling list (with simple problems and exercises on the front and back pages, in large print). That's not much considering the amount most curriculum provide (some up to 10 pages of work per list!). To supplement the series we play several spelling games, do oral spelling bees, and practice in other ways to reinforce her learning. Though my DD does dread doing worksheets (there are some small complaints when the spelling workbook is brought out). She's done with them quickly so spelling practice (along with games and simple oral exercises) is finished in 15-30 minutes; making spelling her shortest and most painless subject. I am pleased enough with the 1st grade level of this series that we are purchasing 2nd grade now.

This book includes spelling lists and practice sheets for a very good spelling program. If you're like me, and your reading series does not address spelling appropriately (or at all), then you'll find this book very useful. The spelling words are very appropriate for first grade. (There's also editions for the other grades.) For example the first spelling unit is the words: a, an, and, am, and at. My class is doing very well with this program, and it's easy for me, too. Everything is provided in reproducibles.