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My Catholic Speller (Level E)

Author(s):

Nancy Nicholson

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.

My Catholic Speller (Level F)

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.

My Very First Catholic Speller

Author(s):

Nancy Nicholson

This charming work text is designed to precede the My Catholic Speller series and would be appropriate for most First Graders. The book provides 27 two page lessons with six spelling words each. Spelling words include some Catholic words as well as the basics. Lessons provide opportunities for simple writing exercises (on appropriate sized writing lines with dotted center-lines as well as simple exercises in matching words and pictures, finding rhyming words, making up sentences, finding hidden words, simple alphabetization, etc.

My Catholic Speller (Level A)

Author(s):

Nancy Nicholson

I've always loved the simplicity and elegance with which Nancy Nicholson combines simple spelling lessons with lovely Catholic content. This content helps children make real connections between their faith and everyday life. My young children, especially, love the beautiful, colorful new covers and are even more receptive to the gentle style of these lessons.

My Catholic Speller (Level B)

This third grade spelling workbook incorporates fun word searches, crossword puzzles and other puzzles into gentle spelling lessons while elegantly tying in Catholic content. Dictionary work, fill-in-the blanks and some traditional spelling practice are also included.

Wordly Wise

Wordly Wise is a terrific spelling program - inexpensive and readily available from most homeschool companies. It was originally written in 1967, but has lived through many revisions. Each lesson is divided into four sections, with the fifth day being a test. Fits perfect into any homeschooler's weekly schedule!

Classical Writing: Aesop

Author(s):

Tracy Davis Gustilo

Lene Mahler Jaqua

If you are attracted to the classical method of teaching composition, by analyzing and imitating excellent literature, but have struggled with implementing your own program, then this is the writing series for you. Meticulously thought through and well organized, Classical Writing: Aesop combines structure with flexibility. It can be used with multiple ages in the homeschool and, though designed for beginning writers in grades 1-5, can be adapted for older ages.

Creative Communications

Author(s):

Sandra Garant

"This book is actually a description of how and why I taught my three children to write. I read a few 'teaching chldren how to write' books and had no desire to use the suggested exercises. They seemed meaningless and out of touch with our daily lives. I wanted my children to use writing, drawing, and speaking to handle specific situations successfully. I wanted them to be able to write conversational letters, to take phone messages, and to learn to ask thoughtful questions.

The Institute for Excellence in Writing

The Institute for Excellence in Writing, owned by a Catholic convert and home school father, teaches the "structure and style of writing" through live and video workshops. This program is used throughout Canada. As do other programs IEW teaches structure (organizing material for writing) so that the final written piece will be logical, but unlike most programs children are trained to do this by using the writings of good authors. The structure of writing is taught by having children read literature, outline the literature, narrate from their outline, then write their own piece.

Stories with a View, Narrative Inspirations, Selected Poetry and Paintings, Story starters for Grades 3-4

Author(s):

Margot Davidson

I must admit a bias. Because I have used the method suggested in Stories with a View for years with my own children, I highly recommend this resource. Why? It works! By observing and interacting with pictures and poetry, young writers are inspired to write interesting fiction.

In fact, Mrs. Davidson makes this method even easier to implement by offering discussion questions and suggested "story starters" to prompt the young writer. For example, with A Restful Tune (a painting about a shepherd boy playing a reed pipe) the questions include: