BJU Press Spelling vs Spelling Power

The sharpest difference is faith content: BJU Press Spelling is Integrated, Spelling Power is None. Four more separate them, so this is not a close pairing.

At a glance

BJU Press Spelling

Grades 1-6

Owners report it suits

Struggling learnersHands-on learners

Spelling Power

Grades 1-12

Owners report it suits

Independent workersMulti-age families
Skip to who fits

Where they differ

Attribute BJU Press Spelling Spelling Power
Rigor
?

How demanding the material is versus grade level. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1gentle, below grade
  2. 2relaxed
  3. 3on grade
  4. 4demanding
  5. 5advanced
Read the rigor guide
Independence
?

How much the child can do alone. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1adult-led
  2. 2guided
  3. 3semi-independent
  4. 4mostly independent
  5. 5fully independent
Read the independence guide
Faith content Integrated None
Approach Blended Mastery
Format Workbook Textbook
Best for Tags show where owners consistently report a good fit. They are not exclusions. Struggling learnersHands-on learners Independent workersMulti-age families
Grades 1-6 1-12

Solid tags are unique to that program. Muted tags are carried by both.

Where they match

How each one plays by grade

Spelling Power runs 6 grades further than BJU Press Spelling. If you want one program to carry the subject for the long haul, plan on leaving BJU Press Spelling around grade 6 and choosing again.

BJU Press Spelling

Grades 1-6

Grade 1 correlates with BJU Phonics and English 1 and Reading 1. Grades 2-3 wrap lessons in story themes, and grade 6 emphasizes Greek and Latin roots and word origins.

Spelling Power

Grades 1-12

Retake the placement test each year to reset each child's level. Grades 1-2 stick to oral games, and the written ten-step method comes in from about age 8 up through adult.

Cost

Cost item BJU Press Spelling Spelling Power
Price $49-88/grade kit $64.95 base (one book, all ages)
Consumable Yes No
Per child / year ~$49-88 for the kit, more with the video course Very low, one ~$65 book serves the whole family for years

Where to buy

What parents report

BJU Press Spelling

Consistently praised

  • Colorful, engaging student pages
  • Inductive lessons help kids discover the patterns
  • Flexible test levels and shorter lists for kids who need them
  • Proofreading and dictation build real writing skills
  • The optional video teacher is a hit with reluctant spellers

Reported as challenges

  • You have to teach it, so it needs daily parent time
  • The teacher edition is basically required
  • Not a fit for independent work
  • The full kit costs more than a simple workbook

Spelling Power

Consistently praised

  • One book covers every kid from first grade to high school
  • Kids only study the words they miss
  • Fifteen minutes a day and you are done
  • Buy it once and reuse it for years
  • Great value for a big family

Reported as challenges

  • You read a thick manual before you can start
  • Gets mom-intensive with three or more kids at different levels
  • Repeated words get boring for strong spellers
  • Pricey upfront if it is just one child

Who BJU Press Spelling fits

A taught, pattern-based spelling course for Christian families who'll sit down for it daily, and it suits kids who do better with dictation and discovery than a fill-in workbook. Families wanting a low-involvement, child-runs-it, or secular program aren't the audience.

Read the full BJU Press Spelling entry Check price BJU Press

Who Spelling Power fits

One affordable book that covers every child and grade, for a parent who doesn't mind giving a quick daily test. Look elsewhere if you're juggling several kids at different levels, want an open-and-go workbook a child does alone, or need a scripted Orton-Gillingham program for dyslexia.

Read the full Spelling Power entry Check price Castlemoyle Books

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Still deciding?

Descriptions aggregate what homeschool parents consistently report across public community sources together with each publisher's own materials. Prices and editions change over time. Both entries last reviewed July 2026.