Apples Daily Spelling Drills for Secondary Students is a Bible-based daily spelling drill for middle and high school students who need basic review. We started using Apples about two years ago. Early this school year, I began to notice improvements in Brianna’s spelling. We use Spelling Power, so we do a pre-test on Monday. I began to notice that she was really thinking about the spelling rules as she was spelling the words.
I finally put two and two together and realized that it was Apples that was making the difference. When I asked her about it, she got that deer-in-the-headlights look. I could see the wheels turning. If she said yes, would that mean more spelling drills? However, she finally admitted that she, too, thought it was Apples that was making the difference.
Apples takes kids through the basic spelling rules that they may not have quite gotten the first time and it takes only ten minutes or less a day. It offers built-in review and can be used with your current spelling or language arts program. It simply focuses on the rules and does not contain any additional spelling lists.
The spelling rules are practiced with Bible verses and sentences. Because it is heavy in Scripture use, if you’re looking for a secular spelling program, Apples isn’t for you. Although we are Christian and the use of Scripture verses doesn’t bother us, I’ll admit that this is one aspect of the program that sometimes annoys me. Different Bible translations often result in some confusion over the word that should be used. However, overall, we have been extremely pleased with Apples Daily Drills.
Kris is the sweet-tea-drinking, classically eclectic, slightly Charlotte Mason, homeschooling mom to her three Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.
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This is more of a question than a comment. I use Spelling Power too and was thinking since they both use spelling rules, this would be a good supplement. However, I don't want to overload my son. Did you use this everyday along with Spelling Power? Could you expand a little on how you combined the two programs? I just can't spend 25 minutes a day on spelling. Thanks so much.
First off, I should confess that I rarely use any curriculum the way you're "supposed" to. We use Spelling Power for the lists. We do the pre-test on Mondays. Those words become my daughter's spelling words for the week and she takes her test on Fridays. She does some sort of practice activity each day, along with a page in Apples. She probably spends 15 minutes or so a day on spelling.
If you didn't want to use it this way, you could alternate days between Spelling Power and Apples. Also, Apples is intended for older students (middle/high school) who are still struggling with spelling, so it's intended for the student to do independently, which shouldn't impact your instruction time.
HTH!
In addition to your curricula, check out my nice list of the spelling rules with examples and MP3s of spelling rule songs and raps to check out at Spelling Rules Songs and Raps.