This page shows how the course works, and some super cool methods that'll make it a breeze for you to ace it!
Click here to play your first audio, or you can just read the text.
The beginning part of the course is made to improve your spelling by teaching you how to pay attention to the sounds that letters make.
Next, we'll talk about some of the tricky ways English spells words that can be confusing. Imagine words like "baby" – even though it sounds like it should end with an 'e', it actually ends with a 'y'. There are six fun activities in this part to help you practice these spellings.
As you improve your understanding, we give you methods to 'decode' or work out more complex words.
Guess what? We've got a special treat for you – an Extra Mastery page! This page has extra stuff to help you, like compound words or abbreviations. You also get a Basic Grammar activity. This will help you get even better at English. And the best part? These cool freebies can be found on the Activities page.
All activities include; video, audio, written instruction (some automatically), images, and a brief interactive assessment that helps you know how well you have done. We also offer a unique and revolutionary e-Dictation spelling game, where a voice will ask you to spell a word. When you type in the word, the game will show you if you are correct or incorrect. You can play this game on your own, without being embarrassed if you spell a word incorrectly. And, if that is not enough, you will be using our e-Reading app, which will help you improve your reading.
There are eighteen activities in the course. Each takes around two hours to complete (but we suggest doing no more than thirty minutes a sessions). If you do at least five sessions (of around thirty minutes) a week, you will improve faster than you think.
You will not be able to continue to the next lesson until you have passed the assessment, helping you build up your knowledge.
At the end of the eighteen activities there is a Final Assessment of approximately fifty questions. This Final Assessment is an open-book assessment, where you can use your Decoding Book (see below).
Do not get discouraged if you do not get a good result the first time! You can always continue to study using your Decoding Book, and work to improve your mark.
Once you finish this Final Assessment you will be eligible for your Course Completion Certificate.
Your Decoding Book is your work book. Imagine the Decoding Book as your secret treasure map for acing spelling. It's like your super guide to becoming an awesome speller!
It is where you will record the tricks that will help you 'de-code' words.
You will also use it when you come across new words that confuse you.
We hope you will treat your Decoding Book with love. Perhaps get a good quality book, with a hard cover and at least 100 pages. Cover the book in paper that inspires you.
You will use it for each Activity, filling it out with care and detail. If at the end of the course you have a well 'organised' spelling reference that will support you throughout the years of your ongoing spelling excellence.
Click here to play your first video.
Once you get your Decoding Book, follow the instructions below to set it up.
First, (using a red pencil) number each page of the book on the bottom right-hand corner .
On page 1, write the heading Easy-Spelling. Then your name, telephone number, and address (in case you lose the book).
One page 2, write the heading CONTENTS. Under this heading, neatly write out the activity headings and page numbers, thinking about what each lesson could be about as you write.
You will need a double-page for each activity. Write the title of the activity at the top of the odd numbered page, leaving the even numbered page blank.
On page 3, write PART ONE, leaving page 4 blank for now.
On page 5, write Activity One; Exploring Letter/Sound Connections, leaving page 6 blank.
On page 7, write Activity Two; More on Sounds and Safe Vowels, leaving page 8 blank.
On page 9, write Activity Three; One or Two Sounds, leaving page 10 blank.
On page 11, write Activity Four; Talk to Your Pencil, leaving page 12 blank.
On page 13, write Activity Five; Safe and Danger Vowels (Emergency E), leaving page 14 blank.
On page 15, write Activity Six; Ending Sound /e/ or /i/, leaving page 16 blank.
On page 17, write Activity Seven; Double Letters and Swimming Pools., leaving page 18 blank.
On page 19, write Activity Eight; When cat C changes its Sound, leaving page 20 blank.
On page 21, write Activity Nine; C or K to Start a Word, leaving page 22 blank.
On page 23, write Activity Ten C or K to Finish a Word, leaving page 24 blank.
On page 25, write Activity Eleven; K Needs one Friend Only, leaving page 26 blank.
On page 27, write Activity Twelve; C Needs One Friend Only, leaving page 28 blank.
On page 29, write Activity Thirteen; C for cat or k for kitten in ic words, leaving page 30 blank.
On page 31, write Activity Fourteen; When G Changes its Sound, leaving page 32 blank.
On page 33, write Activity Fifteen; USA UK Spelling, leave 34 blank
On page 35, a big PART TWO, Clever Spelling Tricks leaving page 36 blank.
On page 37, write Becoming a Word Detective, leaving five blank pages.
On page 39, write Building Word Families, leaving the next five pages blank.
On page 43, write Detective Steps, leaving the next five pages blank.
On page 49, write My Ongoing Spelling Excellence, leaving 19 pages blank.
On page 69, write Jenny's Sound Dictionary, leaving all pages blank until the end of the book.
Are you determined? Watch this video.
You are setting off on a journey of discovery. The Spelling skills that you'll learn on this course will help you for the rest of your life, so take your time. It is not smart to build a house without a strong foundation. This course is your foundation. Many little steps are better than huge leaps. Take your time when filling out your Decoding Book.
Don't be upset if you get confused when you first try spelling a word. English is a strange language that even tricks native speakers. To try and improve your understanding, watch the videos and listen to all the audios as often as you require.
If you have difficulty in understanding an Activity you are welcome to contact us for support at pat@heartspacepublications.com, and we will explain. You can also book a 15 minute session with one of our tutors.
When contacting us for support, don't forget to include the Activity number you are working on, and try and explain what you do not understand in as much detail as possible.
When you have read and understood this information page, click on the below button to start the first ACTIVATE, Exploring Letter/Sound Connection, where you will start to understand the importance of hearing letters and the sounds they make.