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Becky Parker
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| Posted: May 26 2010 at 7:48am | IP Logged
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I was planning to use Phonetic Zoo for my dd who will be in 6th next year. Does anyone use this program that could comment on how well you like it? I'm also not sure of what level to start her in. She really needs spelling help and she's a very auditory learner.
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Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
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stacykay
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| Posted: May 26 2010 at 7:53am | IP Logged
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Hi Becky,
We just ordered PZ for my current 6th grade ds and have only used it for two weeks, now, so I can't help in the way of reviews, yet. There is a placement test at their website that we used for placement purposes. I'll try to update in a few months to let you and anyone interested know how it is going.
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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Kristie 4
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How long does it take each day Stacy? Does your ds do it independantly?
Thanks,
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Kristie in Canada
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stacykay
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It takes no more than 15 minutes, max. I've made up practice handwriting sheets for the words he gets wrong (he still needs to work on his legibility, too!,) and even with that added in, it's 15 minutes.
He does the spelling all on his own. I only give him the spelling rule, which he reviews to himself. Then he listens to the cd on a little portable cd player, using headphones. The program heavily recommends the headphones, avoid surrounding noise (like 3 younger brothers,) and for increased concentration.
I have the list of spelling rules, so each week (I like to do a constant review of sorts in all subjects,) I go over every rule he has learned and give him a couple of examples to spell and put into a sentence. That is just on my own, though.
I'll make sure to keep updating on the program! I am hopeful!!! 
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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Kristie 4
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Sounds good!
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Kristie in Canada
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At_His_Feet
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My ds 12 have been using it for about 6 months and I really like it. My son is a poor speller like his mother as the same age! In the beginning I let him take as many weeks as he needed to get 100% on the lesson, as suggested, but now I limit it to two weeks. We practice 3 new works per day usually while in the car. By the 2 week mark if he hasn't mananged to get them all right, he's only 1 or 2 off.
We'll be sticking with this programme. I really like that he can do it quickly and without my help, which means I know it gets done!
Tricia.
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Tricia
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: May 29 2010 at 7:29am | IP Logged
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At_His_Feet wrote:
I really like that he can do it quickly and without my help, which means I know it gets done!
Tricia. |
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I think this is the program I need! 
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Becky
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Erin
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Becky
Did you end up getting this? Does it make a big difference?
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Erin
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Becky Parker
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Yes! and Yes!
My dd really enjoys using PZ. She's an auditory learner, so anything that includes somebody "talking" or singing to her works well. I was having a hard time keeping up with everything and PZ allows me to let her go mostly independently.
I will say, some of the rules are hard to remember. The jingles don't necessarily make sense. Despite this she is doing well on the tests. As far as carry over into her other writing, it's still not so great. I'm beginning to think nothing will work for that though. The truth is, I think for her to be a good speller in her regular writing, she has to care enough to take the time to think about it. I'm not sure she does, but I'm hoping that will come later like it did for my oldest ds.
Let me know if you have any specific questions.
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Becky
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shineblue
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Hi Erin,
My son does enjoy the independence of this program and I think his spelling is coming along nicely. I actually counted how many spelling sheets he completed last year - 77! Not bad hey, I doubt Mum would have been able to rattle off that many spelling tests!
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Marcia
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TracyFD
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We started using this program this year as well. My daughters in 3rd and 5th enjoy it equally. I go over the spelling rule and make up their personal spelling lists (using misspelled words from letters to pen-pals)but other than that this a a great subject to move over to the "independent" category of schoolwork.
The organization of words by spelling or phonics rule makes sense and I would also encourage a listen to Andrew P's MP3 talks about spelling.
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Becky Parker
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shineblue wrote:
Hi Erin,
I actually counted how many spelling sheets he completed last year - 77! Not bad hey, I doubt Mum would have been able to rattle off that many spelling tests!
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I think this is one of the main things I like about this program. Even though I'm not sure about the carry-over, my dd is doing it nearly every day. I know that if she had a program that required my time with her, we wouldn't get to it as much as we should. And, as I have found with other mom-intensive programs I've used with this dd, the "mom intensity" part doesn't always ensure the child is going to apply the spelling rules in her other writing.
That being said, my dd is a very strong auditory learner. I'm not sure this program will work at all for my ds who is a couple of years behind her. He is a visual-spacial learner and I don't think Phonetic Zoo would be a good fit for him. He's doing well with (the mom-intensive) All About Spelling and then practicing at Spelling City.
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Becky
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shineblue
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My son really 'owns' this program. He does the marking in a different colour pen and even started giving himself his own grades, A-, B+ etc -. He always comes up to me and announces his result! I do like it how he has to receive the 100% (A+) two days in a row before he can continue to the next lesson.
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Marcia
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Topic: Phonetic Zoo?
