Language Arts Spelling

My Catholic Speller (Level E)

Book cover: 'My Catholic Speller (Level E)'
Author(s): 
Nancy Nicholson
Number of pages: 
72 pages
Copyright: 
2005
Publisher: 
For Little Folks Press
Binding: 
Spiralbound
Subject(s): 
Review: 

Level E is the 5th-6th grade text in this series, providing 34 weeks of spelling lessons with quarterly reviews. The book is now bound with a lay-flat spiral binding, making it easier for the student to write in the book. Spaces for the student's work include a dashed middle line, allowing for handwriting practice–-an important and overlooked element in teaching spelling. The particular copy of the text that I have is printed on a smooth, erasable, bright-white paper, but there is some show-through of the ink from the printing on the other side of the paper. I find it distracting, but my son hasn't been bothered by it.

The list words for the first 15 weeks are grouped by phonogram, while the next 15 weeks' lists concentrate on prefixes and suffixes. The final lessons teach homonyms and some Greek and Latin roots. Week 3 includes these words: muscle, scissors, grasp, genuflect, and produce. Week 14 includes these words: parachute, clutch, ancient, gesture, and challenge. Week 25 includes these words: beautify, devotee, stigmatist, volunteer, and author. Week 33 (the final lesson with new words) includes these words: precede, construct, vocation, structure, and recess. Exercises for each lesson include dictionary work, alphabetization, synonym and antonym practice, and some puzzles. This text, in contrast to many other series, emphasizes the meanings of the list words and their usage in sentences.

A unique feature of this series of spelling texts is the apologetics quote for each lesson that incorporates at least one of the list words. This grade level uses quotations from the early Church fathers, many of which I found very difficult! These quotations provide an excellent source for copywork and handwriting practice. Includes teaching suggestions and a full answer key bound into the back.

Perspective: 
Catholic
Additional notes: 

Copyrights 2001/2005

Donated for review by Catholic Heritage Curricula

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
11-27-01

My Catholic Speller (Level F)

Book cover: 'My Catholic Speller (Level F)'
Number of pages: 
82 pages
Copyright: 
2003
Publisher: 
For Little Folks Press
Binding: 
Spiralbound
Subject(s): 
Review: 

This text, designed for the 6th-7th grade student, contains lessons for 34 weeks, including 4 quarterly review weeks, an answer key, and teaching instructions. The list words for the first 6 weeks review the various vowel and vowel phonogram sounds in new word lists, and the next 16 weeks focus on prefixes, suffixes, and some spelling trouble spots. The final word lists are devoted to derivatives of Latin and Greek roots, and one lesson on foreign words used in English. The word list for Week 1 is as follows: scrap, scrape, inflate, Africa, betray, clasp, agony, stable, traitor, blaze migrate, obtain, habitat, dedicate, restrain, manna, avid, vast, elevate, and disdain. The word list for Week 34 (the final review) is: mortal, petite, sympathetic, mosquito, vacant, volcano, infinity, suspect, apathy, graduate, dictator, mortify, insect, genetics, provision, invalid, congratulate, valor, multiple, and assist.

The winning apologetics feature of this series is continued in this level. The focus of the quotations from the Early Church Fathers is on Mary and her role in salvation history. Each week the quotation is used for copywork or memory work, or both, and usually contains at least one of the list words. The text includes teaching notes and explanations for each quotation in the back of the book. If you have done as the author suggests and kept an index card file labeled with a topic and the quotation, you will a wonderful apologetics library by the time that you complete the spelling series! Apologetics lessons are a feature of levels B-F.

Perspective: 
soft cover
Additional notes: 

Copyrights 2002/2003

Donated for review by Catholic Heritage Curricula

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
8-21-02

Also see:

You may also wish to look at our Phonics page as spelling is included in many of the phonics programs.

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