I will review products that I have tried from time to time on this blog that I believe would be helpful to my readers (that is, if I have any! ;) ). If I personally haven't used something, I will tell you. This review is for SpellQuizzer.
What is SpellQuizzer?
SpellQuizzer is a spelling program for helping children master their spelling and vocabulary. There are pre-made spelling lists you can download and use from the SpellQuizzer website. However, you can use the words from any curriculum, as SpellQuizzer was not designed with any one spelling curriculum in mind. In fact, it should compliment virtually any spelling curriculum since you create your own custom spelling lists. There is a page on the Spellquizzer web site specifically for homeschoolers.
The software has a built-in spellchecker that recognizes both US and UK English spellings. The spellchecker warns the user when creating a spelling list if they enter a word that appears to be spelled incorrectly. Because of this safeguard it's reasonably safe to let children create their own spelling lists guided by the curriculum they are working on. It was easy to enter your spelling words and record the words. However, the first time I used it I didn't have a microphone, so I just put a short definition of each word. Even though it can be used without a microphone, I highly recommend getting one. Microphones aren't very expensive, and it was nice.
If the parent is creating the lists in SpellQuizzer it's always a good idea to try to make the sound recordings amusing for the child. Funny phrases or voices make it more fun for the child and help to keep them engaged. If you're like me, you don't alway think of making their school work fun! There are several free downloadable spelling lists for SpellQuizzer on our web site at SpellQuizzer.com. These lists include pre-made sound recordings. We are in the process of adding new lists to the site weekly. We used it with our Abeka curriculum, and it worked fine. However, with new spelling lists being added, it sounds like you wouldn't necessarily need a spelling curriculum.
Users can easily export and import SpellQuizzer spelling lists to share with other SpellQuizzer users. Because of this members of homeschool groups can share their lists rather than everyone having to record their lists individually (assuming everyone is on the same curriculum). If a user doesn't have a PC microphone (many computers come with them now free but they get lost or tossed in a drawer and forgotten) they can usually be purchased at any department store's electronics department for under $10. We purchased my microphone at Big Lots. There's no need to invest in an expensive microphone as the inexpensive models usually produce acceptable recordings.
On some Windows installations Microphone Boost isn't turned on by default. This can result in audio recordings made using a PC microphone being unacceptably faint even with the sound level turned all the way up. This affects all programs that work with a PC microphone and not just SpellQuizzer. There are instructions in the SpellQuizzer help file and also on the web site for turning Microphone Boost on if such a problem is encountered.
What is SpellQuizzer?
SpellQuizzer is a spelling program for helping children master their spelling and vocabulary. There are pre-made spelling lists you can download and use from the SpellQuizzer website. However, you can use the words from any curriculum, as SpellQuizzer was not designed with any one spelling curriculum in mind. In fact, it should compliment virtually any spelling curriculum since you create your own custom spelling lists. There is a page on the Spellquizzer web site specifically for homeschoolers.
The software has a built-in spellchecker that recognizes both US and UK English spellings. The spellchecker warns the user when creating a spelling list if they enter a word that appears to be spelled incorrectly. Because of this safeguard it's reasonably safe to let children create their own spelling lists guided by the curriculum they are working on. It was easy to enter your spelling words and record the words. However, the first time I used it I didn't have a microphone, so I just put a short definition of each word. Even though it can be used without a microphone, I highly recommend getting one. Microphones aren't very expensive, and it was nice.
If the parent is creating the lists in SpellQuizzer it's always a good idea to try to make the sound recordings amusing for the child. Funny phrases or voices make it more fun for the child and help to keep them engaged. If you're like me, you don't alway think of making their school work fun! There are several free downloadable spelling lists for SpellQuizzer on our web site at SpellQuizzer.com. These lists include pre-made sound recordings. We are in the process of adding new lists to the site weekly. We used it with our Abeka curriculum, and it worked fine. However, with new spelling lists being added, it sounds like you wouldn't necessarily need a spelling curriculum.
Users can easily export and import SpellQuizzer spelling lists to share with other SpellQuizzer users. Because of this members of homeschool groups can share their lists rather than everyone having to record their lists individually (assuming everyone is on the same curriculum). If a user doesn't have a PC microphone (many computers come with them now free but they get lost or tossed in a drawer and forgotten) they can usually be purchased at any department store's electronics department for under $10. We purchased my microphone at Big Lots. There's no need to invest in an expensive microphone as the inexpensive models usually produce acceptable recordings.
On some Windows installations Microphone Boost isn't turned on by default. This can result in audio recordings made using a PC microphone being unacceptably faint even with the sound level turned all the way up. This affects all programs that work with a PC microphone and not just SpellQuizzer. There are instructions in the SpellQuizzer help file and also on the web site for turning Microphone Boost on if such a problem is encountered.
If you think you might like to try SpellQuizzer free for 30 days, go to this page and download it. Thirty days should be enough time to see if it's going to work for your family or not.
