´ Up to 170 spellings individually stored for each child.
´ Old spellings saved - allows revision over a long time span.
´ Learning, practice 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 (useful in schools).
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Add/delete Names
You can add or delete a name from by selecting names/add a name or delete a name. Spellings of my daughter, Annette, are included to illustrate how the program works. Enter the names of your children by selecting name/add a name from the menu bar. If you wish to give groups of children the same spellings, enter the name as 'group' something eg group1, groupB, etc.
Take care when deleting a name - sound files for words can be shared by different lists, and these should only be deleted (you will be promted) if you are completely sure they are not also used by another list.
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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' - use this option to revise/test old spellings; 'CASE SENSITIVE' - if selected, spellings must be entered with the correct case; 'PASSWORD PROTECTION' (only available with registration) - this is useful in a school - password protect lists of names and spellings (but do exit the program after amending lists to restore protection). Also, make a careful note of your password. If you forget the password, delete the file "spelopt" or "spelopt.dat" from the program directory to remove password protection; 'PRINT CERTIFICATE' - allows the printing of a simple certificate after a successful test attempt.
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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. Sound Quality/Spelling Preference allows you to opt for UK or US spellings, and to choose high or low sound quality for recorded words. High quality uses 4 times the disc space (60Kb per word) as low quality (15Kb per word). This is particularly relevant for schools with large numbers of children using the program.
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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).
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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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LEARNING
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. Each letter is checked as it is entered by your child. This is a very effective learning technique. Once your child is reasonably familiar with the words, move on to 'practice'. If no learning is needed, maybe the spellings are too easy! At the end of a 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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PRACTICE
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. The 'Look Again' button gives you another chance to see the word - but only once per word !
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TEST
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: 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).
