Superspell Assessment Disk Click to come home with me

Contact
Click here to go to 4Mation's website

4Mation Educational Resources
14 Castle Park Road,
Barnstaple. Devon.
EX32 8PA
UK.

Email: sales@4Mation.co.uk

 Tel 44 (0)1271 325353

Program evaluation

Simon says:-

In use this program is intuitive. The spoken instructions mean that students know what to do straight away. And, once they know what they are doing, the instructions may be turned off.

The voices used to speak the words and sentences are clear - and feature a middle-English accent. My Northern mill town students did not feel the voice was too "posh" nor was it heavily accented American (like one expensive system I could name).

Each spelling, in either the Placement or Diagnostic tests, is accompanied by a context sentence which is spoken also. This makes it easy to understand which word is being asked for.

Students liked the way the results of the test were presented both on screen and in the printout. The students may see the words they have mis-spelt but the teacher is presented with an analysis of what the student knows and does not know - for example "3 letter words (CVC)" or "2L Consonant final blends" or "multisyllabic words (short vowel sounds)".

The Results sheet tells which spelling skills are "established", which "partially established" and which "not established". Finally it recommends which Superspell Word Lists could be used to help improve the spelling skills which are not established.

This is the kind of assessment which would make it easy for even a novice to develop a suitable spelling programme, and, given the gradual elimination of specialist support services here in the UK, then this must be an essential piece of software for schools.

I recommend this software highly for either school or personal use.

Well done again, 4Mation.

Program Details

4Mation say:-

"The Super Spell Assessment Disk assists teachers (and parents) to efficiently diagnose particular spelling weaknesses across a wide spectrum. Additionally, students can independently assess their own stage of spelling development. The Assessment Disk may be used as a diagnostic spelling program in its own right, or as a companion program to Super Spell 2, or with other spelling software.

Incorrect spelling is heavily penalised in our society - so heavily that it keeps people from getting jobs they want or prevents them from moving up to better positions. Inability to spell gives people complexes just as much as unsureness about grammar or proper methods of dress and social behaviour.

The development of literacy skills is vital to every student's success at school. The ability to spell accurately is an integral part of their literacy development. Poor spellers are normally inhibited in their creative writing efforts, they often have low self-esteem which impacts on their performances in other curriculum areas.

The Assessment Disk has four comprehensive spelling tests which consist of a placement test, and three diagnostic tests. These tests establish the user's stage of spelling and will also pinpoint specific spelling weaknesses as well as identifying spelling abilities. Results are compiled for each individual user and saved. The results can also be viewed on the screen or printed.

The SuperSpell "Assessment Disk" will also recommend the appropriate SuperSpell word lists needed to remedy diagnosed spelling problems.

The four tests are drawn from a large built in database of equivalent words, sentences and photographs. High quality English narration is used throughout on all the words and sentences. The user can stop any test at any stage and return to the Main Menu, upon choosing the test again the user has the option of beginning from where the test was stopped or starting the test again.

Key Features

  • Supports Personal Learning
  • Identifies spelling abilities and pinpoints spelling weaknesses
  • Very easy to use
  • Contains four comprehensive spelling assessments
  • Results are compiled and stored for each individual user
  • Assessment of competence only
  • No comparisons with other individuals' results
  • Focus on outcomes
  • Linked to SuperSpell's word lists
  • Developed by teachers
  • Teacher management system
  • High quality speech throughout (English)
  • The spoken word or sentence can be repeated
  • Each word is chosen randomly from five equivalent words, sentences and photographs

Price: £39.50 + P&P and VAT for the single user version. £98.75 for site licence, but check the site for up-to-date price.

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