BJU Press Spelling

BJU Press Grades 1-6 Updated July 2026

Who it 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.

How it scores

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
Parent involvement
?

How much the parent is present and teaching. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1hands-off
  2. 2light
  3. 3shared
  4. 4leading
  5. 5parent-taught
Read the parent involvement guide
Prep load
?

How much the parent prepares before a lesson. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1open-and-go
  2. 2minimal
  3. 3moderate
  4. 4involved
  5. 5heavy
Read the prep load guide
Screen time
?

How much daily work is on a device. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1fully offline
  2. 2mostly offline
  3. 3blended
  4. 4mostly digital
  5. 5fully digital
Read the screen time 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
Time commitment
?

How long a daily lesson takes the child. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1under 15 min
  2. 215 to 25 min
  3. 325 to 40 min
  4. 440 to 60 min
  5. 560+ min
Read the time commitment guide

At a glance

Faith content Integrated
Approach Blended
Format Workbook A colorful worktext plus an essential teacher edition; lessons are taught from the teacher edition, not self-directed. Students write words and sentences from dictation, do proofreading and composition, and use a built-in dictionary. An optional online video course is available.
Used as Spine
Philosophy Traditional Traditional word lists
Best for Struggling learnersHands-on learners

What parents consistently praise

  • 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

What parents report 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

How it shifts by grade

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.

Additional notes

Historically titled Spelling by Sound and Structure. Significant Christian content, including Scripture verses in the teacher edition. One strand of BJU's language arts; sold as a print kit or an online video course.

Cost

Price$49-88/grade kit
ConsumableYes
Per child / year~$49-88 for the kit, more with the video course
Check price BJU Press

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Compare head to head

Descriptions aggregate what homeschool parents consistently report across public community sources (forums, Facebook groups, Reddit, and long-form reviews) together with the publisher's own materials. Prices and editions change over time.

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