´ Up to 170 spellings individually stored for each child.
´ Old spellings saved - allows revision over a long time span.
´ Teaching, practise and test modes.
´ Option to make the program case sensitive.
Extra features with registration:
´ Database and quiz on commonly misspelled words.
´ Simple selling rules to make learning spellings easier.
´ Optional password protection for names/spelling lists (essential in schools).
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Select a Name
Spellings of my daughter, Annette, are included to illustrate how the program works. You should enter the names of your children by selecting name/add a name from the menu bar. Each name can have up to 8 letters. If you wish to give groups of children the same spellings, enter the name as 'group' something eg group1, groupB, etc. (up to 8 letters).
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Choosing Spellings
An obvious source of spellings will be errors in your child's written work. While the spellings chosen should not be too easy, it is just as important that they should not be TOO difficult - this can quickly frustrate your child and put him/her off using the program. If you see this is happening, then change the spellings!
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Input Spellings
Once you have entered a name you should enter spellings for that person (referred to as current spellings) by selecting spellings/input spellings from the menu bar.
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Case Sensitive
In normal use the program is not case sensitive - even a mix of capital and lowercase letters is accepted. However, if you select 'case sensitive' from the options menu (perhaps for older children) then the case has to be correct (this also cancels the 'capslock' feature - if the keyboard is set to 'capslock', it is normally automatically switched off, as it can confuse young children).
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Options
There are four options: 'Previous spellings' - select this option to revise/test old spellings; 'Case sensitive' - if selected, the spellings have to be entered with the correct case (this also switches off the 'capslock' feature); 'Password Protection'(only available with registration) - this option is particularly useful in a school - it enables you to password protect lists of names and spellings - but remember to exit the program after amending lists to restore protection; 'Print Certificate' - which allows the printing of a simple certificate after a successful test attempt. Note that not all printers will support the printing of a certificate.
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Sound
'Sound off' switches off all sound effects except the speaking of the words; 'Record a sound' enables you to record the sound file for a word, if it has been accidentally deleted. 'Missing sound' - displays a list of any missing sound files for the selected list of spellings.
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Say Words
If you check the 'Say Words' box (only visible if you have a sound card) then the words to be learnt/tested will be spoken (provided you have recorded the sound). Note: If you enter spellings for a number of children or enter a large number of words, conflicts may arise when two words have the same first 8 letters; you have the option of using the pre-existing sound file (which has the same first 8 letters as your new word) or entering another word. Such conflicts can be reduced in a school situation by using 'group' names (See 'Select a Name').
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Add/delete spellings
You can add or delete a spelling from the current list by selecting spellings/add a spelling or delete a spelling. You cannot add to the previous spellings.
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Previous spellings
Whenever new spellings are entered, the old spellings for that person are added to a file which contains all previous spellings (up to 120 words). A selection of these can be revised/tested by selecting 'Previous spellings' in the 'Options' menu.
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Teaching option
This is a true learning option - the spelling is presented (and spoken, if you have a soundcard), it can be studied at leisure and then spelt. This is a very effective learning technique. Once your child is reasonably familiar with the words, move on to 'practise'. If no learning is needed, maybe the spellings are too easy! At the end of a practice session a list of the words spelt wrongly will be displayed - words will appear more than once if they were spelt wrongly more than once.
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Practise option
In this option the word is presented for a few seconds and then has to be spelt - it will be suitable when your child is reasonably familiar with the words.
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Test option
Once the spellings have been learnt and your child is confident he or she knows them all, use the test option (only available if you have a soundcard). This is like a real test - there are no second chances: but a list of the wrongly spelt words will be shown at the end.
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Spelling Rules
Simple rules to be used with older children (8 and above) to make learning spellings easier (only available with registration).
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Common Mispellings
A large list of commonly mispelled words together with a multiple choice quiz to test these spellings (only available with registration).
