Question about spelling list....

[Stanzie]

I haven't started doing anything yet, just browsed through my book, but I noticed that there's only 1700 words on the Ayer's list.

At the suggested rate of 30 words a week, we should be done with that list in two years or so... but at the end it says that this list should be completed by the sixth grade.

What am I missing? Is there time for review that I'm not seeing because I skimmed? Do most people also add words of interest to their kid/students and lengthen it? Do people generally, working at home, run through the list in a couple of years and then do something else until their kid leaves home, no more spelling lessons? (That'd be fine with me, but I want to make sure that's how this is planned out!)

The solution, alas, is not "Buy the teacher's guide" because I do not have any money at all, I'm afraid.

[kyserrolls]

That is a great question. I, as well, am brand new to Spalding and am not sure if there is a different/better/more active group than this to receive help and responses from. There are many questions like this one that I have, but I do not feel the questions asked on this site get answered. Does anybody have other recommendations?
I am very excited to use the Spalding method, but a little scared because of the lack of support. I there another way to get the support? Any feedback would be great!!

[Betty]

Spalding welcomes your questions and is here to help and answer your questions. If you have specific questions, do not hesitate to call the office in Phoenix at 623-434-1204.
There are actually over 2300 words in the newer version of The Writing Road to Reading text. Call or send an e-mail, and we can send you a complimentary assessment in spelling to give your child. The results will help in determining where to start your child in the Ayres Word LIst. Kindergarten and first-grade children start at the beginning (sections A-G) but older children need assessing first to see what section is appropriate and at the correct level of difficulty. The Scope and Sequence section toward the back of The Writing Road to Reading text (page 444) shows the sections that are typically introduced/practiced, mastered, or reviewed/reinforced at kindergarten-eighth grade.
Spalding has developed Teacher Guides for kindergarten-sixth grade. Each Guide is divided into four sections. The Planning section includes 32 weeks of lesson plans in spelling, writing, and reading. The Delivering section includes the strategies and procedures that you will use to teach your child. The third section is the Assessing section which includes the assessments and forms to use. The last section is Evaluating that will help you use the assessing results to differentiate the learning for your child.

Spalding Executive Trainer
Betty Henson