We try to limit the amount of time our children spend watching t.v., playing video games, and playing online. When they do get online, we generally make them stick to educational websites. Vocabulary Spelling City has long been one of the approved websites of the house. This cool website allows me to enter in our children's spelling list for the week and then the children can play games to help them review and practice their spelling words.
Recently, we got the opportunity to review the premium site version of Vocabulary Spelling City and I jumped at the chance. With the premium version, I can manage up to five students entering separate lists and assignments for each. Both spelling tests and vocabulary tests can be given and online records are kept for each child. There are also additional games that are not included with the basic package.
You may remember that we started school back in July. We had been struggling through some our new Language Arts choices and I finally decided that the curricula I had chosen was just not for us. While trying to decide what we were going to do, I seriously considered using Vocabulary Spelling City as the core of our Language Arts program, simply adding readers and a grammar course. This could easily be done. Not only does Vocabulary Spelling City allow you to enter in spelling and vocab lists, but they also have lists that you can use. I chose several lists for each of my kids and saved them to our account. Each week, I can simply click which list I want each child to use and then click on the assignments I want them to complete each day.
At the end of the week, they take a test and all of their grades are recorded for me.
The only frustration that we received with this site is that some of the games would freeze up on our kids computers. I don't know much about the way computers operate, but even though the two classroom computers we own are only a year own, we did purchase the "no frills" versions. We had no problem playing all of the Vocabulary Spelling City games on my nicer laptop...well, no problem other than the fact that Mama wanted her computer back and the kids wanted to keep playing.
We did wind up finding a Language Arts program that we are very happy with and it includes spelling lists. However, we will still be using Vocabulary Spelling City for additional practice and study. A One-year Premium Subscription to the site is $29.99 for up to five children. A basic membership is free.
Check out other reviews of this product at the Schoolhouse Review Crew Blog.
SpellingCity is the best. My favorites: HangMouse, their syllables segmenting lessons and games (under teacher resources), their analogies lessons and games, and their printable handwriting worksheets.
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