Building Spelling Skills: Grade 1

I use this series as the basis of my daughter's spelling curriculum. Though I would never use it as a stand alone curriculum. Alone it is boring "busy work", but busy work that I feel is necessary to reinforce her spelling skills with repetition, and visual recognition.
I think it is vital to note that one reason I chose this series is the low amount of worksheets in the book. There are an average of 2-3 worksheets per spelling list (with simple problems and exercises on the front and back pages, in large print). That's not much considering the amount most curriculum provide (some up to 10 pages of work per list!).
To supplement the series we play several spelling games, do oral spelling bees, and practice in other ways to reinforce her learning.
Though my DD does dread doing worksheets (there are some small complaints when the spelling workbook is brought out). She's done with them quickly so spelling practice (along with games and simple oral exercises) is finished in 15-30 minutes; making spelling her shortest and most painless subject.
I am pleased enough with the 1st grade level of this series that we are purchasing 2nd grade now.

This is the type of workbook I hate. It includes alot of busy-work that doesn't actually teach children how to spell. The exercises are boring, and a complete waste of time since they don't actually teach the children how to spell the words. There are dictation sentences for each spelling lesson that include words that are more difficult to spell than the words in that week's spelling list. For instance, in Week Six, the dictation sentence is "I have a pup on the bus." The word HAVE, which is obviously the most difficult word to spell in the dictation sentence, is NOT one of that week's spelling words. The word "I" is, as are "pup" and "bus." (Which also begs the question, why is the word "I" a spelling word? The proper usage of "I" should be taught in a grammar workbook. The word certainly doesn't belong in a spelling book.) Anyway, kids could study their five-word spelling list for Week Six, do all of the workbook exercises, and fail the dictation-sentence test because they wouldn't be able to spell a word that wasn't even on the spelling list. This is just one indication that this series was NOT written or overseen by anyone who knows how to teach children. If your teacher uses this book in the classroom, complain loudly and clearly. If you are homeschooling, don't waste your time and money, or your kid's precious brain cells.

This book includes spelling lists and practice sheets for a very good spelling program. If you're like me, and your reading series does not address spelling appropriately (or at all), then you'll find this book very useful. The spelling words are very appropriate for first grade. (There's also editions for the other grades.) For example the first spelling unit is the words: a, an, and, am, and at. My class is doing very well with this program, and it's easy for me, too. Everything is provided in reproducibles.