DOES YOUR CHILD whimper and sink low in his seat when faced with his weekly spelling list? Is your current spelling method failing to capture his attention or produce desired results? Then perhaps All About Spelling by Marie Rippel is the spelling curriculum you have been looking for.

It isn’t your garden-variety, ho-hum spelling program. This looks like fun! (Be sure to read all the way down for a giveaway!)

A Multisensory Approach

All About Spelling capitalizes on multisensory learning by including visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning tools. It invites children to approach spelling and vocabulary with curiosity and enthusiasm for the learning journey.

Also, to accommodate even the most reluctant speller, the curriculum incorporates the use of phonograms, a tool that aids a child’s ability to sound out unfamiliar words and master spelling.

Rippel’s purpose in writing this curriculum is to teach children spelling in such a way that they always have the tools they need “at hand” to successfully and consistently spell accurately. And, due to the multisensory integration in All About Spelling, children are apt to internalize the principles taught and remember them easily.

You can begin working with children as young as preschool age. The program targets any school-age child who is working to establish and solidify spelling skills. Older children who struggle with spelling will benefit from reviewing the skills in this curriculum also.

Program Features

Each level comes prepackaged with both teacher and student materials.

Teacher’s Manual: This product is a series of paperback books, Levels 1 through 7, which serve as teachers manuals for the series.

Material Packet: Each Teacher’s Manual comes with a corresponding student Material Packet, also available separately. Each student will need his own.

Each Material Packet includes nearly everything your student will need to successfully complete all the lessons in that particular level. For Level 1, where most students begin, items such as progress charts, flashcards, index card dividers, and a completion certificate are included in the material packet. As the levels progress, more items are added to each material packet to accommodate growing spelling skills.

Interactive Kits: You will need to make a one-time purchase of either the Basic or Deluxe Interactive Kit, which you will use in Levels 1 through 7. The Interactive Kit contains items such as letter tiles, magnets, and Phonogram CD-ROM.

How It Works

To use All About Spelling, follow step-by-step instructions that guide you through the teaching process. The teacher’s manual provides sample dialogue along with tips for teachers, encouragement from the author, and hints for how to motivate your student.

Each book level is comprised of up to 28 lessons, with every lesson thoroughly mapped out so you can easily follow along. How much time you spend on a lesson is completely customizable. You decide if your student needs to spend a few days or weeks going over a particular lesson, or if your eager learner is ready to plow through a handful of lessons at a time.

Together, you and your child practice principles from each lesson using the provided flashcards to help the student master phonogram and letter sounds. The flashcards include:

• Sound Cards for parent to dictate letter sounds for the student to write
• Phonogram Cards that teach the sound of each phonogram
• Key Cards with quiz questions to test your student’s memory
• Word Cards that incorporate the sounds your student is learning simple words your child can recognize by sight

Nearly everything your student needs to complete a lesson is provided, including perforated flashcard-sized dividers for orderly storage of your flashcards. You will need to provide additional items such as lined paper, colored pencils, and stickers. An optional magnet board and letter tile magnets, available from All About Spelling, further enhance the learning experience.

Integration of Learning Styles

What I like most about All About Spelling is the integration of auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning styles. The broad appeal to the various types of ways children learn allows parents to capitalize on their own child’s individual strengths instead of highlighting their weaknesses.

Also, easy-to-follow instructions liberate overwhelmed parents by taking the lesson-planning stress out of teaching vital spelling skills. With very little needed beyond the included material packets, this curriculum is a one-stop shop for teaching your child how to spell.

Through Rippel’s well-planned parental guidance and your encouragement of your own children, All About Spelling sets children up for success.

Click to receive free spelling downloads, or visit All About Spelling’s FAQ page to learn more about the program, see sample lessons, and get placement help.

Courtney Parkinson holds a master’s degree in counseling (MFT) from Cal Baptist University. A former WriteShop student herself, Courtney now works as a child therapist. 

WriteShop received a set of books from All About Spelling at no charge in exchange for Courtney’s honest review. No other compensation was provided. We did not promise a favorable review, just an honest opinion of this product. However, because of our positive impression of the program, WriteShop is now an affiliate. This post contains affiliate links. Read our full disclosure policy.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I started reading the book Little Pilgrim’s Progress when I was a lot younger. In fact, you could say it was far back enough that my parents had to read it to me! Honestly, it was one of my favorite books of all time. For a reason unknown, eventually the paperback volume was left on a shelf, unfinished. It wasn’t until many years later that I finally picked it out, dusted it off, and started again from scratch.

Little Pilgrim’s Progress is a beautifully written book, and although the theme could steer some away, it has everything you’d want in today’s fiction or fantasy. Being one of the most compelling and imaginative books I’ve read, the pages are full of morals and fantastic hidden meanings. It’s filled with unreal scenarios and wonderful characters, although the main aspect of Christianity is just so perfectly placed. It’s easily one of the novels that you can get completely lost in.

But that’s enough about the feel; it’s time to get straight to the book itself!

The book centers on a young boy named little Christian, living in the faraway town of Destruction. He has lived there all his life, never leaving, never drifting away. He has always heard the loveliest stories about the world outside Destruction, how there are beautiful kingdoms ruled by a King who loves the children of the world.

After hearing enough stories, little Christian embarks on his own journey, seeking the promised land of the Celestial City. His quest brings him down many paths, both pleasant or treacherous, and he meets many people—friends and enemies alike.

Sixty years after John Bunyan’s classic was first published comes the new Anniversary Edition from Moody Press. It is complete with lovely illustrations, along with a redefined Adventure Guide by Deanna Conrad.

Combined with the book, this extra booklet can really help the younger audience understand Little Pilgrim’s Progress, pointing out unseen implications and simply adding some fun to the process. Nonetheless, whether young or old, pilgrims of all sizes are sure to enjoy Helen Taylor’s novel from cover to cover.

~Jessica Stilwell

From a Mom’s Point of View

I just love the Little Pilgrim’s Progress Adventure Guide that accompanies the book! The Guide is divided into six “sessions,” each containing:

• Vocabulary list to complete
• In-depth questions about the story
• Short chart to fill in allegorical concepts
• Questions about the setting
• Biblical application
• Character chart with character matching (matching a description to a character)

This little Guide is so packed with information, it could easily be used as a language arts program over six weeks. For the younger child,  a lot of parent interaction will be needed as some of the terminology will probably be over their heads. I do think most older elementary students, as well as middle schoolers, would enjoy the process of going through the book and Guide on their own.

Little Pilgrim’s Progress would be a wonderful book club pick for children! For a church group, it would make a great small group or Bible study.

~Kelly Stilwell

Jessica Stilwell is a 13-year-old who loves art and gaming. She attends a virtual school for most of her classes. Her favorite class is media/animation. Jessica plans to be a video game designer.

Kelly Stilwell (Jessica’s mom) is a stay-at-home mom of teens blogging about family life in the fast lane at Virtually Yours. Kelly writes about food, travel, education, and hosts a lot of giveaways! You can connect with her on Facebook and Twitter too.

Giveaway

We are happy to be giving away both the Little Pilgrim’s Progress book and Adventure Guide!

Enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget below.

• See my complete giveaway rules
• No purchase necessary.
• All giveaways are void where prohibited.
• Open to all age 18 and older.
• Winners are chosen randomly by Rafflecopter.
• Unless otherwise stated, winners have 72 hours from the close of the giveaway to claim their prize. If the prize is not claimed within 72 hours, an alternate winner will be selected.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We’re still celebrating WriteShop’s 12th birthday … and that means another great giveaway! This giveaway is open to everyone—even our international friends, with a prize package worth as much as $211!

Prizes from WriteShop

WriteShop will give the winner your choice of WriteShop Primary or WriteShop Junior curriculum package - includes ebook version of both Teacher’s Guide and related Activity Pack  ($29 to $65 value)

Book A is recommended for kindergarten or first graders. It may also be used with reluctant second graders. The program accommodates pre-writers as well as beginning and developing writers, teaching the skills of the writing process at the very simplest level.

Book B is recommended for first or second graders. It may also be used with reluctant third graders. The program accommodates pre-writers as well as beginning and developing writers, teaching the steps of the writing process in a simple, engaging way.

Book C is recommended for 2nd or 3rd graders. It may also be used with 9-year-olds who learn with difficulty. Students learn to write simple stories, articles, and reports with parent help. The program accommodates beginning and developing writers, teaching the steps of the writing process in a simple, engaging way.

Book D is recommended for 3rd, 4th, or reluctant 5th graders. Students learn to write and publish fiction, nonfiction, and poetry using a variety of pre-writing games, graphic organizers, and self-editing tools. Effective with both reluctant and enthusiastic writers.

Prizes from Friends of WriteShop

Four of our favorite publishing friends are tossing some great gifts into the prize package!

Media Angels is giving the winner a ticket to the Ultimate Homeschool Expo.  This year they’re talking about homeschooling methods, teaching styles, organization, making the most out of your holidays while homeschooling, creation science, exceptional children, teen years, and more. Listen to the Expo and each of the exciting speakers in the comfort of your own home! ($89.95 value)

Grapevine Studies offers Bible studies for all ages. The winner will receive the teacher and student download of The Resurrection study ebook. Starting in the Upper Room in Jerusalem, your students will study the people and events of the final hours of Jesus’ life. Great for family devotions, Sunday School, or Bible class. ($23.00 value)

Homeschool Adventure Co. creates and offers resources designed to inspire and equip parents to educate and raise children to be loving, compassionate, strong, and wise. One of their tools is Philippians in 28 weeks, which will help you memorize Philippians in 28 weeks! This streamlined approach uses memory cards carefully constructed to present Philippians thought-by-thought, copywork verses, journal questions, weekly reflections, recitation charts to test your retention, and an optional tracking tool called “The Log.” The winner will get their own copy of this eb00k. ($14.95 value)

Jim Hodges Audio Books has largest collection of unabridged recordings of the G.A. Henty historical novels available. The winner will get to pick one audio book of your choice. ($18 value)

Enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget below.

• See my complete giveaway rules
• No purchase necessary.
• All giveaways are void where prohibited.
• Open to all age 18 and older.
• Winners are chosen randomly, by Rafflecopter.
• Unless otherwise stated, winners have 72 hours from the close of the giveaway to claim their prize. If the prize is not claimed within 72 hours, an alternate winner will be selected.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This month marks our 12th year of providing quality writing materials to homeschoolers—and we want to celebrate! A number of our friends have partnered with us to offer a fantastic Big Birthday Bash giveaway package worth over $500!

Here are the Birthday Bash prizes:

WriteShop will give the winner their choice of WriteShop curriculum. Choose the level you need! ($32 – $100 value)

Jolanthe from Homeschool Creations created a wonderful resource for homeschool parents called the Homeschool Planner. This great planner can be customized and used year after year. ($20 value)

Thirty-One Consultant Kathy Planton is offering an Organizing Utility Tote. See how Spell Outloud used this bag to organize her WriteShop curriculum. ($30 value)

Erica from Confessions of a Homeschooler is offering her Classical Literature Unit Study Pack. Each literature unit study contains educational lessons, activities and a fun lapbook students will work on as they progress through the book. ($18 value)

Bright Ideas Press is offering a digital copy of their fabulous geography software called WonderMaps. It’s a customizable collection of over 350 different maps. With nearly endless possibilities, WonderMaps makes it easy to regularly integrate map study into a variety of lessons and make the most of every learning opportunity. ($49.95 value)

Michelle from Hi Mamma Designs creates beautiful fabric banners. She is making a fabric Happy Birthday banner for the Birthday Bash winner. This is a perfect decoration to use year after year as you celebrate the birthdays of your loved ones at home. ($38 value)

Schoolhouse Teachers is offering a 1-year membership to their online classroom, where Kim Kautzer is the writing teacher. With over 25 different “school” subjects presented via teaching videos, ongoing lesson plans, worksheets, lapbooks & unit studies, writing prompts and other assignments to choose from, students can additionally  interact personally with the teachers by asking them questions and gaining feedback. ($64.26 value)

All About Learning Press is offering a $50 gift certificate to their store! Their All About Reading and All About Spelling programs are complete, comprehensive, and based on the Orton-Gillingham approach and the latest research. ($50 value)

Knowledge Quest created A Presidential Scrapbook and is giving a copy to our Birthday Bash winner. Journey back through time and get acquainted with our nation’s presidents, from General George Washington to our current Commander-in-Chief, Barack Obama. Find out about the events that propelled these men into the highest office of the United States of America and what remarkable and memorable deeds marked each of their presidencies. ($18.95 value)

Linda Lacour Hobar, author of The Mystery of History curriculum, is giving a downloadable Mp3 Audio book of Vol I of The Mystery of History. Bring The Mystery of History Volume I Second Edition to life! You can listen to the professionally recorded stories through the voice of the author. ($49.95 value)

Raising Real Men by Hal and Melanie Young is a practical guide to equipping the hearts and minds of boys without losing or breaking your own. The winner will receive their own copy of this encouraging book. ($15 value)

The winner will also receive a 1-year subscription to Home Educating Family Magazine. With its first-rate graphic design and culturally relevant articles, Home Educating Family Magazine has quickly become the most popular homeschool magazine on the market. ($19.95 value)

With 25 years of experience in the home educating community, Media Angels  has developed an online EXPO addressing a wide variety of topics for today’s homeschool moms! Each year we line up an impressive speaker list with topics that are relevant to your every day life. This year we are talking about homeschooling methods, teaching styles, organization, making the most out of your holidays while homeschooling, creation science, exceptional children, teen years, and more. The winner will receive an Ultimate Homeschool Expo ticket! ($89.95 value)

Starting a  Micro Business for Teens by Carol Topp will help teenagers earn money while learning a lot. A micro business is simple to start, usually home-based, low risk, educational, and easy for a busy student to run. This book offers ideas, a business plan, pitfalls to avoid, and resources to get a teenager started making money running their own micro business. The winner will receive their own copy of Starting a Micro Business for Teens. ($9.95 value)

Enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget below.

• See my complete giveaway rules
• No purchase necessary.
• All giveaways are void where prohibited.
• Open only to U.S. Residents, age 18 and older.
• Winners are chosen randomly, by Rafflecopter.
• Unless otherwise stated, winners have 72 hours from the close of the giveaway to claim their prize. If the prize is not claimed within 72 hours, an alternate winner will be selected.

International friends, there will be a special giveaway open to everyone later  in the month!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

IT’S REVIEW and giveaway time over at Confessions of a Homeschooler!

Even after combing a publisher’s website, it’s still nice to hear what real moms think about homeschool products, don’t you agree? Erica is a long-time WriteShop fan, and she’s sharing her review of WriteShop Junior Book D. Not only that, she’s giving away free curriculum—and the winner could be YOU!

Head on over for a chance to win your choice of WriteShop Primary Book A, B, or C or WriteShop Junior Book D. Hurry! Entries close October 12, 2012 at midnight EDT.

BONUS: You’ll also find a coupon code for 15% off your purchase in the WriteShop store.

creative commons

“Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.” ~Anthony Robbins

Have you ever been RAKed?

I have!

• A stranger shared her umbrella with me as we found our cars in the rain.
• My neighbor slipped a homemade cinnamon roll into my mailbox.
• A sweet friend cleaned my house while I recovered from surgery.
• When I ran a bit short at check-out, a smiling grocery clerk pulled twenty-seven cents from her own pocket and tossed it into the cash drawer.

Each of these simple gestures presented itself in my life as a Random Act of Kindness (RAK).

I can’t begin to remember all the ways I’ve experienced the goodness and generosity of both friends and total strangers. Some cost nothing more than a bit of common courtesy; others meant a greater sacrifice of time or resources.

These blessings happen every day, all around us. I wonder how often we miss the gift?

Smallest Gestures

Just last week, a woman invited me to go ahead in line at the grocery store checkout. I know this seems like such a small thing, but it was a hectic day, and those few precious extra minutes meant a great deal to me.

Secret Blessings

Once, when my husband asked our server for the dinner tab, she told us our bill had already been paid!

As we left the restaurant, we spotted a young family in the corner whose children had been in our toddler Sunday school class over the years. Were they the givers of this sweet gift? We’ll never know for sure, but we certainly left that restaurant with lightness of heart!

The Kindness of Strangers

Perhaps the most striking act of kindness calls to mind a November night many years ago when our new dog, whom we recently rescued from a shelter, got into some snail bait and became seriously ill. Her treatment costs were mounting by the hour, and without my husband in town to help make decisions, I told the vet how much I could afford and asked him do what he could for Casey.

As I stood in the office, a man approached the counter and said he’d seen my son crying on the steps outside the animal hospital. He couldn’t bear to see a boy grieving so, and he proceeded to tell the receptionist that he’d cover the difference in the bill, whatever the cost. Whatever the cost!

I have never forgotten the kindness of this man, this complete stranger, because Casey, now quite elderly, has been the sweetest pet we ever could have asked for—and he helped save her life.

Kim’s Birthday Celebration

Today is my birthday, but I’m much more in a giving mood than a receiving one: I’m in the mood to pay it forward!

Ever since the lovely Jenn at Daze of Adventure posted about how she celebrated her 36th birthday by performing 36 Random Acts of Kindness, I’ve been looking toward my own special day with similar thoughts fluttering around in my mind.

So when my husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I remembered a blog post from my friend Ann Voskamp and told him I wanted someone to have clean drinking water. For just $55, our gift will provide fresh water for 68 people for their entire lives!

Next, I invited friends and family to join me in performing one RAK on my birthday to help me celebrate.

My original goal was 58 RAKs, but in harnessing the power of the Internet, with its amazing viral capabilities, I’m believing that—with your help—my mundane 58th birthday will be a vessel to impact hundreds of people, if not thousands, in our communities and around the world.

Random Acts of Kindness Ideas

There are limitless ways you can bless someone with a RAK—and they don’t have to cost a penny! Whether you have change to spare or not, here are some places to gather ideas for ways you can pay it forward.

• SpreadKindness.org
• HelpOthers.org
• Random Acts of Kindness
• 50 Simple Ways to Pay It Forward

Will you join me by doing one kind deed to help celebrate my birthday? My blog gets thousands of visitors each week, so it’s my prayer that our collective Random Acts of Kindness will rock our world!

WriteShop Giveaway

To add to the celebration, I’m giving away a gift package to one lucky winner! Each person who comments below by sharing how you “RAKed” someone this week will be entered into a drawing for your choice of one of the following WriteShop curriculum packages:

• WriteShop Primary Book A, B, or C
• WriteShop Junior Book D
• WriteShop I Basic Set
• WriteShop II plus Teacher’s Manual

What if you already have the WriteShop books you need, or you’re not homeschooling or teaching? Choose a $25 Amazon gift card instead!

I can’t wait to see how this takes off! Are you ready to RAK someone?

 Creative Commons photos by Louise Docker and DFID.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Twelve Days of Christmas

December 26, 2011 through January 6, 2012 mark the Twelve Days of Christmas. Celebrate with us by receiving a gift for the season!

WriteShop is partnering with Homeschooling Today magazine to bring you a special gift on December 31, the Sixth Day of Christmas.

I can’t tell you what the gift is (don’t you love surprises?), but I can tell you that it’s something brand-new, and I promise you’ll be thrilled. Plus, we’re throwing in a terrific WriteShop discount coupon too.

How to Get Your Gifts

Go to www.HomeschoolingToday.com now to sign up on the home page for the Homeschooling Helper e-newsletter to receive our offer on the above date.

Homeschooling Today will send a special discount or gift from a different vendor each day of the Twelve Days of Christmas – that’s 12 different goodies — but only to their readers. Get your new year off right! Sign up now so you don’t miss a single one of these special offers.

And if you’re unfamiliar with the traditions of the Twelve Days of Christmas, check out Marilyn Rockett’s excellent article. It will help you make sense of what “four calling birds,” “six geese a-laying,” and “eight maids a-milking” really mean.

Wishing you the richest blessings of the season,
Kim

Congratulations to the winners of our 1000 fans giveaway!

Three happy moms have each won a $25 gift certificate to the WriteShop store and are excited to go shopping for new writing curriculum!

Our Winners

Comment #41: Lynne!

 Comment #28: Missional Mama!

Comment #9: Sara!

Winners have been notified by email. Congrats again, ladies!

This giveaway is now closed.

Today we reached a milestone: 1000 Facebook fans on our WriteShop page!

In honor of this momentous occasion, we’re going to give away THREE $25 gift certificates to the WriteShop store. Simply leave a comment below telling how you would spend your $25!

Enter to Win a $25 Gift Certificate

• The giveaway will be open until midnight EST Friday November 18, 2011. Winners will be announced Saturday, November 19.
• Share the love! Encourage your friends to *like* our Facebook page. www.facebook.com/writeshop
• You can get up to 3 extra entries by posting on Facebook, blogging, or tweeting a link to the giveaway. You must leave a separate comment for EACH entry (4 entries max per person). Winner will be chosen at random using random.org.
• This giveaway is offered to US & international residents.
• This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. “Liking” WriteShop’s Facebook page is not a requirement for entering the drawing.
• IMPORTANT: In order to enter the drawing, you must leave a comment on THIS post. To leave a comment, scroll to the bottom of the post. (If you are reading this via RSS, you will need to visit the actual blog to post a comment.)

Thanks to everyone who entered to win a complete WriteShop Junior Book D curriculum package!

The winner is . . .

Comment #9: Jennifer!

Congratulations, Jennifer! You are the first official owner of WriteShop Junior Book D. How sweet is that? Check your email for info about claiming your prize.

For those who didn’t win, make sure you join our mailing list for WriteShop News, as that is the ONLY way you can get a FREE Time-Saver Pack ($13.95 value) with your purchase of Book D. 

Subscribe to WriteShop News

Sign up right away! The preorder email is going out on Saturday, October 29.

~Kim