Spelling Workout

Modern Curriculum Press Grades 1-8 Updated August 2026

Who it fits

Cheap and open-and-go, a workbook a child can mostly run themselves, and a good landing spot for kids who get bored with rote drill. Families who want heavy explicit phonics rules, a multisensory approach, or dyslexia support should look at All About Spelling instead.

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 None
Approach Blended
Format Workbook A softcover consumable student workbook plus an optional teacher edition, two-tone and illustrated. Four pages per weekly lesson, about 36 lessons a level. Word lists shift to cursive from around Level C.
Used as Spine or supplement
Philosophy Traditional Traditional word listsSynthetic phonics
Best for Independent workersReluctant learners

What parents consistently praise

  • Cheap enough for any budget
  • Kids can do most of it on their own
  • Short lessons that do not cause tears
  • Puzzles and activities keep it from getting stale
  • Frees up the parent's time

What parents report as challenges

  • Light on explicit rule teaching
  • Proofreading and unscrambling can confuse a struggling or dyslexic speller
  • Can get reading and writing heavy
  • Teacher edition is written for a classroom

How it shifts by grade

Levels A and B lean on picture and phonics work with more parent help. Levels F through H drop the opening narrative and move into word origins and vocabulary, where students are most independent.

Additional notes

Secular, so it slots into any homeschool. Loosely tracks MCP Plaid Phonics if a family wants a matching reading program, but works standalone. No placement test; compare tables of contents to place a child.

Cost

Price$13-30/level (workbook or bundle)
ConsumableYes
Per child / year~$22-30 for the bundle, ~$15-20 workbook only
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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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