Our Favorite Spelling & Vocabulary Curriculum

Spelling and Vocabulary go hand in hand - See our family's favorite combo

CURRICULUM PICKS

The Savvy Homeschooler

5/8/20241 min read

After 18 years of homeschooling, Iโ€™ve found that while curriculum can change from year to year, some tools consistently support strong learning, especially in handwriting, cursive, spelling, and vocabulary.

While vocabulary is naturally built across all subjects, I still choose to intentionally include three programs in our homeschool:

  • Wordly Wise i3000

  • Membean

  • Power Spelling

Together, they create a simple but highly effective weekly rhythm.

Our Weekly Vocabulary & Spelling Routine

Monday through Thursday (Short Daily Enrichment Blocks)

  • Students complete one lesson from Wordly Wise, spread across four days

  • Each lesson includes:

    • Reading passages

    • Multiple-choice questions

    • Sentence writing

    • Vocabulary comprehension

  • On Day 1:

    • Students handwrite their spelling list

    • We alternate print and cursive every other list

  • Students also:

    • Enter their words into Power Spelling for end-of-week testing

    • Spend 5 minutes in Membean, which adapts to their level

  • We also listen to the Membean Root Podcast for a quick โ€œRoot of the Dayโ€

Friday (Assessment Day)
Students complete:

  • Wordly Wise assessment

  • Membean vocabulary and writing assessment

  • Power Spelling automated spelling test

Why This Combination Works

  • Wordly Wise builds structured vocabulary and reading comprehension

  • Membean expands vocabulary through adaptive learning

  • Power Spelling reinforces spelling through repetition and testing

  • Handwriting practice strengthens retention and reinforces spelling patterns

Even though vocabulary is everywhere, this approach ensures:

  • Consistent exposure

  • Deeper understanding

  • Long-term retention

My Take After 18 Years

You donโ€™t need a separate vocabulary or spelling curriculum, but using one or a combination like this creates intentional, focused growth that is hard to replicate casually.

If you are looking for a simple way to strengthen your childโ€™s vocabulary, I highly recommend trying one or all three of these programs.

Cost Notes & Links (Helpful for Parents)

  • Wordly Wise i3000 can be found at www.homeschoolbuyersclub.com

  • Power Spelling is about $20 per year for up to 5 students

  • Membean is more expensive, but has been worth it for us year after year

Optional Planner Fit

This fits naturally into a structured planner system:

Course Name: Vocabulary and Spelling (I call mine Enrichment Block #1)
Schedule Type: Monday through Thursday
Lesson Structure:

  • Days 1 through 4: Wordly Wise lesson, Membean, Handwriting

  • Day 5: Assessments