Spelling

= = = = = = = = flat = Master Spell =
 * Many students with LD have problems and struggle with spelling. One route would be to teach students how to use a word processor and word prediction software. This accommodation allows the students to work on their written language and creatively without focusing on the spelling skills. At the same time for young children, direct instruction in the area of phonics and spelling is important. Programs like Master spell can assist students in practicing frequently used words. **

Free Spelling software for the Mac
Overview by Cheryl Wissick


 * Web:** www.macinmind.com
 * System Requirements:** Mac OS X

Click to view a video of Master Spell:
= Master Spell Video=

**Instructional Purpose**:
The objective of this software is to have a fast and easy program to drill students on spelling words. There are a variety of spelling lists already available but they were probably aligned to a particular reading program. Teachers can also create or edit word llists and that is a strength of the program as you would want to have word lists designed for student needs. In addition, creating customized word lists for students provides consideration for diverse learners. Teachers can set up individual student profiles.

Here are two screen shots of the program, posted for instructional purposes. Original screenshots are posted on Flickr: The first shows the word list choices and the second shows the main page for MasterSpell



**Instructional Sequence:**
The sequence of the program use is as follows: 1- Student selects the word list. 2- Student selects the number of words in the quiz. 3- Once the quiz has started the student listened to each word being pronounced, see the word and then hears a sentence with the word. 4- After all the words are reviewed, the student then hears each word pronounced, said in a sentence and then has a chance to spell it. 5- Students can take as long as needed to type in the word. Once finished they click on the submit key. 6- The student receives feedback immediately on the word. If the student misspells the word, then the word is pronounced again and spelled out for the student. 7- Once all the words have been presented the student is provided with the opportunity to retry any mispelled words.

The objectives of the program are met in that software provides a quick spelling review practice. The vocabulary is apporpriate and simple for students to choose words lists. I have not listened to all the sentences that are provided with the spelling words but they seem pretty standard and free of bias. Students can listen to the words and the sentences more than once. An important consideration for using this program would be the time required to create customized word lists. Alternatively this would be a great way to involve other students to create spelling lists and record sentences for younger students.

I created a video demonstrating how to use the program. In order to view the video you have to download Flash Player which is available from [|Adobe Flash Player]. The video shows me taking a spelling test. [|Master Spell Video will open in a new window and leave this Wiki.]

**Instructional Design:**
The teacher is in control of this program and can set up additional access for each student. The teacher can set it up so that the student can choose the word list and the number of words to spell. The teacher can also set up the type of reinforcment and the voice to use. The voice can speak admonishing remarks, each letter as it is typed, and provide audible guidance or idle-time chatter. For younger students or those who need the auditory feedback of the letter name, speak each letter as it is typed would be checked. Teachers can also create their own voice recordings.

Given that teachers have control of pupil access and type of word lists I feel that this program has a number of considerations related to UDL. In addition extensive student feedback is provided. After a spelling test, student can see and print a list of how they did and view a chart of their progress.




 * Appearance: ** The appearance is not cluttered and pretty straightforward for a student to use. There are only a few screens to navigate. Notice on the main screen that the student can access only certain buttons. The only additional option for a student is to make a choice from the menu bar to access the hangman game. Again the teacher has control over the types of feedback and use of distracting comments used with the program. Although there is a little owl tutor that talks to the students, the teacher can set this up for minimal feedback if needed. Also the type of voice can be changed to male or female. There are no additional types of animation to distract the student. Teachers can also choose the option to hide all other programs when this one is running. Although it might be too plain for some students, it would be a way to help them to focus solely on spelling.

There is also a hangman game students can play to practice their words.



**Ease of Use:** Overall this program is easy to use and comes with a lengthy online tutorial to assist in tweaking the effectiveness. I did experience a few program crashes when I was trying to create a customized spelling list.


 * Strengths & Weaknesses**

Overall the strength of this program is the ability of the teacher to create new word lists and customize access for each student. Having that flexibilty you also pay the price of increased time to use the program. Given that this program is free, I would put it in the top 10 category compared to other spelling practice programs. In comparison I could have reviewed another spelling drill program but I chose to broaden my approach to consider other ways we remediate spelling difficulties.

For students with spelling difficulties there are many paths for assistive technology. The first is that we provide direct instruction and practice in the area of weakness. This software would provide additional practice for the student. The teacher would need to customize word lists for the student that follow particular patterns and align to the instruction in phonics. Alternatively the teacher could have the student practice sight words and frequently mispelled words.

In addition to direct instruction in spelling, the student should be trained to use the spell checker in a word processor. Research has indicated that students are more likely to use the spell checker if the correct word appears in the first three choices. Therefore instruction in spelling would have to focus on getting partially correct words. Unfortunately for many students with spelling difficulties, their spelling is so bizaree that the correct word does not appear and sometimes no choices are provided. The student is then lost for options. This leads us to the third choice of training a student to use word prediction. For my second and comparison review I used WordQ a word prediction program that works in conjunction with a word processor.

=Spelling City=

Free online Spelling Activity: [|Spelling City] www.spellingcity.com/

With each spelling list, students can choose one of three options:
 * **Test Me** repeats each spelling word with a live voice and uses it in a sentence.
 * **Teach Me** spells and displays the word in ways that stimulate memory for visual and verbal learners.
 * **Play a Game** uses your spelling list in educational games that teach spelling, word meaning, vocabulary, and alphabetical order.