The program was constructed using

The program is designed to work on computers running Microsoft Windows (Windows 95 and
later).
The program was constructed using Illuminatus Opus from Digital Workshop.
www.digitalworkshop.co.uk
These notes were produced using Serif Page Plus 8.
www.serif.com
Spelling Wizard devised by:
Gareth Rossiter, Grestone Primary School, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham. B20 1ND
gareth.rossiter@grestone.bham.sch.uk
www.grestone.bham.sch.uk
How to Get Started
Spelling Wizard can be run directly
from CD. Double click My Computer.
Select the CD drive, again by double
clicking. The drive letter will vary from
machine to machine. This is how it may
look on Windows XP.
Simply double click the Spelling Wizard
icon to start.
Alternatively you may wish to run the
program from your hard drive. Select
the Spelling Wizard icon. Use the right
mouse button to bring up this menu and
select Copy.
Now choose an area on your hard disk
where you want to store the program.
For example you might want to use
My Documents. Open up this area,
select Edit
and then Paste.
The program is now on your hard
disk and can be run by selecting this
icon.
How to Use the Program
With this program you, or the pupil, choose 5 words to work on. The program was originally
devised for use with Spelling Journals. Details of this approach to the teaching of spelling
can be found in Spelling Resource Book, published by Rigby Heinemann, Australia. It can however be used just as easily with any approach to the teaching of spelling.
There are basically two sections to Spelling Wizard, the practice session followed by a test.
The practice section is basically a look, cover, write and compare activity. The test is selfmarking and finishes with a summary page which can be printed.
The opening screen is self-explanatory.
Once the pupils has typed in his or her
first name, then the arrow leads to the
next screen.
This is where the 5 words go. Enter all five
words. Use the mouse to move between the
word input boxes.
It might be advisable to train children to ask
you to check that the spelling of the words is
correct at this point.
Now each word needs to be practised in turn. Simply select Press next to each word.
Look at the word.
Hide the word does exactly
what it says.
Now the pupil attempts to spell
the word.
Show the word then allows the pupil
to compare his or her attempt with
the word as set out on the previous
screen.
Back to list takes the pupil back to the
list of 5 words. The next word in the
list is then selected for practise.
Clear the box allows the pupil to have
another go if the word has been spelt
incorrectly or if the pupil wants further practice.
Once all five words have been practised, the pupil is
now ready to go on to the next session, the test.
Select Test me
A screen now appears giving the pupil instructions:
Look at the word
Wait for the box
Spell the word
Press Enter
The test then starts automatically.
A word from the list appears for a short while.
It then disappears and a shape takes its place for a few
seconds. This is to give some time to prevent a child simply
typing the word from short-term memory.
A text input frame then appears and it is here the
child attempts to type the word he or she saw earlier.
The child then presses the Enter key on the keyboard.
Now one of two things happens.
If the word has been spelt correctly, a tick appears.
If the word has been spelt incorrectly, a screen appears
informing the child that the answer is not correct. It shows
the child’s attempt and also the correct spelling.
Spelling Wizard then automatically goes on to another word.
Once all five words have been tested, a summary screen appears. This gives the pupil, and
the teacher, the words used, the child’s spelling of the words, whether the spelling was correct and finally a score. There is an option to print the page and also an option to quit the
program.
I devised the program originally for my own use and therefore included details of the school
where I teach. Should you want a version of the program with your own school name, or without a school name, I will try to re-publish the program with the desired logo. My e-mail address is gareth.rossiter@grestone.bham.sch.uk.
I am conducting a research project based on the use of Spelling Wizard in classrooms. I
would appreciate any comments you have. Please contact me at the above address.
The program was constructed using Illuminatus Opus from Digital Workshop
www.digitalworkshop.co.uk
These notes were produced using Serif Page Plus 8
www.serif.com