We use the Harcourt Reading series in our school complete with the suggested spelling words. Not being 100% "sold" on the spelling component, I would love to learn how others use this program (or not) to teach spelling.
I can't really help much. This was the first year I used the Harcourt spelling (in 3rd). I liked it very much. It coordinated well with the language/grammar emphasis in each unit. We didn't have the workbooks, but I had the master which I copied most of the weeks. I added 5 difficult bonus words each week, too. For next year, I'm going to use the workbooks.
I am using Harcourt also. Trophies right? I agree on the spelling. I was not very excited about it last year (first year using it). I am looking to change it. It could be as simple as replacing those last 5 word, though. Even though they pertained to the story, I found some to be silly for 2nd graders. We also use project read for intervention, so I may just follow the order that the phonemes are presented in that program to create my own list. This way it reinforces it for my kids who have trouble in this area.
I haven't taught second before, so I am not be too much help, but with third graders, I have always given them 5 individual words based on their spelling errors. If there are kids who don't really have any spelling errors they have vocabulary words. I make a sheet and they take it home and practice those along with pattern words each week. I try to pick high frequency words, or words they at least use often. Once, believe it or not, I had to give a kid his last name as his spelling word! If they miss those words they get them again the next week. The kids work with partners to give one another the test.
Hated it in 2nd. I mean "petroglyphs" come on!! I use Benchmark Spelling, which is all about onsets and rimes. Similar to Words Their Way which I want to incorporate more of this year. I have used Benchmark for about 3 years now and have seen definite improvement in writing and reading. Way more so than when I used Harcourt.
No. She's right. It isn't a vocabulary word, petroglyph is actually one of the spelling words for 2nd grade! I had several parent calls about that one! (It was under the "ph" makes the f-sound rule.)
It was our first year using Harcourt last yr. and I had my principal's son in my class. She called me in and said these "sight" or "high frequency" words at the end of the list are not actually high frequency words. I told her, "Yes, I know, it is from the reading series you ordered." Petroglyphs is one (I had to look it up), and "appreciate" is one which was so hard for them. The poor babies.
A lot of things i've read (both here and on other message boards) have talked about "individualized lists"....my question is....organizationally....how much harder is it to do that?
