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Spelling 08-09: SWR (Spell to Write & Read)
By Debra | September 11, 2008
Three of my kiddos are using SWR this year. These three kids are all SWR “pros” and know the program well. This year they are going to work VERY independently - at least at this point. They are no longer in their 3R years and need to have this aspect of their day simplified. I need this area simplified so that I can have more time to focus on the 3Rs with their younger 2 sisters.
They each have a spiral bound spelling notebook. Taylor’s is the yellow one in the picture - used one of the language art covers from our Free Homeschool Resources section at NotebookingPages.com. These are divided into four sections: spelling log, challenge words, spelling rules, & spelling reference pages. I created new spelling paper for these sections (nothing special - just something new for the new year). You can get your own free copy of our spelling paper here. The reference pages are copied from the SWR chart pack. We bound the whole thing together using our ProClick binding machine.
For the first 20-30 days of school, we will complete one reference page a day until they are all “finished” (or at least started). No, this is not the way the program is written, but I’m tweaking out my own spelling program this year LOL! The kids redo these pages every year, so they are all pretty familiar with them. Throughout the year, as they encounter words that follow the rules/patterns of these reference pages, they’ll add them. Each day they are also copying 1-2 rules into their notebooks until they finish all 29 of them.
For each word list, I’m writing the “clues” for each word on one side of an index card and the word with it’s markings on the other side. (I’m trying to learn from my friend Molly over at HomeschoolWithIndexCards how to print these on my own - I think I’ve just about got it figured out!) I have my own little system for dictating the words. For each multi-letter phonogram, I use a line divided with little hash marks to denote the number of letters needed. So a three letter phonogram looks like: “_,_,_”.
So, the word ”mother” would look like: “_ _ _,_ _,_” (note the space between syllables).
That would be on their “clue” side of the card. The other side would say “moth2 er“. The whole set of 20 words are then numbered and put together with an O-ring.
![](http://debrafogelbach.com/wp-content/uploads/109-150x150.jpg "\")
Then, I use my computer’s mic to dictate each word from the list and save the audio. It takes about 15-20 minutes for me to prep this material for one word list.
The kids LOVE it (so far). They can work at their own pace as long as I can keep up with creating the cards for each lesson needed. What’s super-duper fantastic is the time being saved in the LONG run. Each word list I create will be used by at least 3 kids (maybe 5) by the time it’s all said and done. I prep only one time!
I am requiring the kids to log 5-10 words a day for three days completing at least 20 words a week. They sit down at one of the computers (I’ve saved the audio to both computers so 2 kids can work on this at the same time) with their log sheet and cards. The cards are numbered 1-20 just as their log sheets are. They play the audio and pause after the first reading of the dictated sounds. They use their clue card to help them decipher the word. Then they listen to the repeated dictation of the sounds and if happy with their attempt, flip the card over to check. They then make any corrections as needed and add any markings they may have missed. Now, here is where the loss of teacher interaction could make a difference with kids less experienced with this method. The kids need to understand how the rules and markings work. These kids have been using SWR for several years now and know their stuff pretty well. However, we are going over the rules and markings together just to be sure they “get it” in one of our two quiz sessions that week.
Quick rundown of our week:
Day 1:
[Copy 1-2 rules, Work on Building a Reference Page] will last for the first 20-30 days of school
Dictate 5-10 new words, Practice Phonogram Cards
Day 2:
[Copy 1-2 rules, Work on Building a Reference Page] will last for the first 20-30 days of school
Dictate 5-10 new words, Quiz Session with Mom/Quickly go over & discuss new words in log book
Day 3:
[Copy 1-2 rules, Work on Building a Reference Page] will last for the first 20-30 days of school
Dictate 5-10 new words, Practice Phonogram Cards
Day 4:
W/Mom: Add log words to reference pages as they apply (these are specified in the Wise Guide lists).
Quiz Session with Mom/Quickly go over & discuss new words in log book.
One other section of their spelling book that I hope to blog about at a later time is the Challenge Word List. Here is where the kids will log words that they have misspelled in their notebooking, reports, etc.
These will be tested during one of their Quiz Sessions with Mom each week. All words must be spelled correctly twice before this word is taken off their weekly quiz list. Our Quiz Sessions involve nothing more than a quick quiz taken on a personal-sized marker board. Mistakes can be quickly erased and paper is not wasted on something we’ll only toss later. We keep the original list of words (which they have marked), their challenge word list, reference pages, and rules.
**My 2 cents: There tends to be much discussion in homeschooling boards about whether or not SWR is Charlotte Mason friendly. I do not pretend to be an expert by any means with SWR or CM. I’m not following either one of their methods as prescribed. However, I will say that THIS family finds SWR to be very “friendly” for the CM-type education WE are seeking. So, for us, it’s CM-friendly. I know the system above isn’t “perfect”, but it will work to meet our goals and it will work well with our schedule/routines. I’m learning to let go of my perfectionism one step at a time. With spelling, I want to create better spellers. I want to give my kids the tools to become better spellers. I do not want to sacrifice all (or even much) of our time to make sure they become perfect spellers when that time could be spent doing such greater things - like devouring great living books, developing the character and skills needed for the calling(s) in their lives by pursuing the interests of their hearts, spending time with each other and building relationships. I have wasted enough time over the years trying to ”perfect” so many things in our schooling. So, this year, our focus is on identifying EVERYTHING that seems to entangle us so that we can once and for all surrender these areas to God and truly be FREE to receive the richest blessings that come from THE one and only Perfect One.
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Topics: How We Do . . ., Uncategorized |
September 12th, 2008 at 8:13 am
I’m so glad you’re sharing more of your school time and how YOU use your resources. We’ve sure enjoyed the ones we’ve used! A million thanks!
November 6th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Hi,
Those spelling books look interesting. I will have never heard of this curriculum. I will tell my family about it.
Are those pictures taken in your school room? The room looks so neat with so many books. I love books, ecspecially old children’s books, they are my favorite.
You have a very nice blog. It was nice to come visit your blog. I found your blog through This-n-That Needlework.
Belle
December 11th, 2008 at 2:13 am
I love the premade spelling books! We also have used SWR for…. ever. I actually own the original, first edition, Teaching Reading at Home, as well as the first edition WISE Guide. I could, maybe should, upgrade to SWR, but why fix what isn’t broken?
I remember one school year, we began doing foster care and when we received our first baby, I simply could NOT do spelling with my girls. I spent two evenings, stayed up late, and recorded every single spelling list on a tape recorder… dictated the words AND the corrections, markings, everything. That’s what we used that year and it was well worth the time that it took. Your clue cards are something that I hadn’t thought of. Great ideas!