Apples: Daily Spelling Drills for Secondary Students
by: Susan Kemmerer
For more information or to order: www.homeschoolingfromtheheart.com

Specifically designed for older students who struggle with spelling, "Apples" is different from any program I have seen. Rather than giving the student lists of words to memorize, it uses spelling rules and application to improve comprehension. Spelling rules are presented as "clues," and each day the student reviews the rule, eventually committing it to memory by filling in keywords left blank at the top of each page. They also apply the rule with a variety of activities, completing one page each day. There are no spelling lists, no spelling tests. Every tenth lesson is a review of the rules studied to that point. Emphasis is placed on words that follow the rules - the rule breakers are taught separately.

"Apples" spelling lessons are short - only taking about 10 minutes each day. It is not designed to look childish and does not contain pictures or fancy graphics. This really is an ideal program for middle or high school students who struggle with spelling. My high school student IS remembering the rules and applying them after only a few weeks! There are 150 lessons in "Apples," all the answers are in the back. "Apples 2" is also available, and provides a second year of study. Once these two books are completed, I believe that even a "poor" speller will have improved and be more confident in their ability to spell words correctly.

Making the grade: A+
Cost: $12.95
Value for your homeschool dollar: 10