Spelling You See Review: Is This Visual Approach Worth It?

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What if your child could learn to spell without weekly tests and endless memorization drills? Not every child learns through traditional word lists. When my visual learner struggled with that approach, I discovered this developmental program. After three years of daily use, I’ve got clear opinions about what works—and what doesn’t.

If you’re curious about a spelling approach that skips tests and drills, you’ve probably heard about Spelling You See. In this review, I’ll share my honest experience after three years using this program with multiple children. Whether you’re exploring our best homeschool language arts curriculum guide or looking at this program specifically, this review will help you decide. (Last updated: January 2026)

What is Spelling You See?

Spelling You See (SYS) is a visual, developmental word study curriculum published by Demme Learning, the same company behind Math-U-See. The program is based on research by Dr. Karen Holinga, who studied how children naturally develop their ability to write words correctly.

Unlike traditional programs, SYS doesn’t use weekly word lists, orthography tests, or explicit rule instruction. Instead, it relies on copywork and pattern recognition. Students copy passages and highlight letter patterns, training their visual memory to recognize correct word forms. According to research from the National Academies Press, exposure to correct word patterns through reading and writing contributes significantly to literacy development.

The program spans seven levels from beginning readers through advanced writers. Each level takes approximately 36 weeks to complete with daily 10-20 minute sessions.

Key Features at a Glance

• Visual Learning: Uses pattern recognition rather than rote memorization
• No Testing: Progress measured through observation, not weekly assessments
• Copywork Focus: Daily copying of passages builds visual memory
• Pattern Marking: Students highlight letter patterns with colored pencils
• Developmental Stages: Based on natural orthographic development research
• Short Lessons: Only 10-20 minutes daily
• Independent Work: Students can work with minimal parent involvement
• Engaging Content: Passages from history, science, and literature

Program Levels Explained

Spelling You See offers seven levels progressing from early elementary through high school. Each level uses age-appropriate content while building visual word recognition skills. I’ve found the progression to be thoughtfully designed based on our family’s experience.

Level A: Listen and Write

This intro level focuses on phonemic awareness and early writing. Students practice letter formation while developing listening skills. It’s designed for children just learning to write, typically kindergarten or early first grade.

Level B: Jack and Jill

Using nursery rhymes as content, this level introduces the chunking technique—marking common letter patterns. Students begin recognizing familiar letter combinations. Best for early readers in first or second grade.

Level C: Wild Tales

Animal-themed passages provide engaging copywork while reinforcing pattern recognition. Students mark vowel patterns and common chunks. Typically used in second or third grade.

Level D: Americana

American history passages add content learning while continuing spelling development. The skill-building sequence continues with more complex patterns. Designed for third or fourth grade students.

Levels E-G: Advanced Levels

Higher levels use literature excerpts, historical documents, and more sophisticated content. Students continue pattern recognition while working with advanced vocabulary. These levels serve upper elementary through high school.

Program Materials and Scope

Each Spelling You See level includes minimal materials, which keeps things refreshingly simple for busy homeschool families. There are no manipulatives, flashcards, or complex teacher prep required. Furthermore, this streamlined approach means you won’t need to spend hours preparing lessons.

What’s Included

• Instructor’s Handbook: Brief guide (not a traditional textbook) explaining the approach and daily activities
• Student Workbook: Passages for copywork and marking (consumable, lasts one full school year)
• Colored Pencils: Need 5-7 colors for pattern marking (sold separately)

Sample Weekly Schedule

Here’s how we’ve structured our spelling schedule over the past three years:

• Monday-Friday: 15 minutes of daily copywork and pattern marking
• Same time daily: Consistency matters more than duration
• No weekend work: Five days per week is sufficient for progress

The scope covers orthographic development from basic phonetic patterns through advanced word structures. According to the What Works Clearinghouse, repeated exposure to words through reading and writing contributes to spelling development. However, the program doesn’t explicitly teach word formation rules. Children develop their ability to write correctly through repeated exposure and visual pattern recognition rather than memorized rules. In my experience, this worked well for some of my kids but not others.

How Spelling You See Works

Each daily lesson follows a simple, predictable pattern that children can master quickly. As a result, the consistency makes it easy for students to work independently once they understand the process. In our home, my daughter could complete her lessons without help after just the first two weeks.

Daily Lesson Structure

• Day 1: Copy the passage carefully while focusing on accurate spelling
• Day 2: Copy the passage again, marking vowel chunks in yellow
• Day 3: Copy and mark consonant chunks in a second color
• Day 4: Copy and mark bossy r patterns in a third color
• Day 5: Copy and mark any remaining patterns, review the week’s work

What is Chunking?

Chunking means identifying common letter patterns within words. Instead of sounding out each letter individually, students recognize familiar groups. For example, “-tion” becomes a single chunk rather than four separate letters. Research from the International Dyslexia Association confirms that pattern recognition is a key component of spelling development. This visual chunking approach mirrors how fluent spellers actually process words.

Students use colored pencils to highlight different pattern types. For instance, yellow might mark vowel teams, blue might mark consonant blends, and so on. Moreover, the colors help visual learners see and remember the patterns more effectively. According to Cathy Duffy Reviews, this color-coding method appeals particularly to artistic and creative children.

Spelling You See Pros

Now let’s explore what makes this curriculum appealing to so many homeschool families. Based on my three years of experience, there are several significant advantages for the right type of learner.

1. Perfect for Visual Learners

If your child learns by seeing rather than hearing or memorizing, this approach makes sense. The combination of copywork and color-coded pattern marking engages visual processing. My daughter, a strong visual learner, finally “got” word patterns after switching to this program.

2. Low Stress, No Tests

Many children experience anxiety around word tests, and mine certainly did. This program removes that pressure entirely. There’s no weekly test to fail, no grades to earn. Instead, students simply practice daily, and skills develop naturally over time. For anxious children, this approach can transform their relationship with learning words. My daughter used to cry before Friday quizzes with our old curriculum—that hasn’t happened once with SYS.

3. Short, Simple Lessons

Lessons take only 10-20 minutes. There’s no complex setup or lengthy instruction. Students know exactly what to do each day. This brevity works well for busy families and children with limited attention spans.

4. Mostly Independent

After initial training, students can complete daily work independently. Parents check the copywork occasionally but don’t need to teach lessons or administer tests. As a result, for families with multiple children, this independence is incredibly valuable. In contrast to our experience with First Language Lessons, which requires constant parent involvement, SYS lets me focus on other subjects while my kids work.

5. Engaging Content

The passages come from nursery rhymes, history, science, and literature. Students learn content while practicing their writing. Many children enjoy the interesting material more than traditional word lists.

Spelling You See Cons

Of course, this approach isn’t for everyone, and I want to be honest about the drawbacks. Here are the potential disadvantages you should carefully consider before purchasing.

1. No Explicit Rule Instruction

Some children need to understand why words are formed certain ways. This program doesn’t teach orthographic rules explicitly. Kids who benefit from understanding patterns logically may find the visual-only approach frustrating. Programs like All About Spelling or Logic of English might serve these learners better.

2. Slow Progress for Some

The developmental approach assumes ability will emerge naturally with exposure. For some children, it does. For others, progress feels painfully slow. If your child already knows most words in a level, the repetitive copywork becomes tedious without clear advancement. We experienced this with my older daughter, who needed more challenge.

3. Boring for Some Learners

Let’s be honest: copying passages every day can become monotonous for many kids. Kinesthetic learners who need movement and variety may strongly resist the repetitive format. The same activity structure every day simply doesn’t suit all learning styles. However, some children thrive with predictable routines, so consider your child’s temperament carefully.

4. Limited Accountability

Without tests, it’s harder to measure progress objectively. Consequently, parents may wonder if the program is actually working. The lack of clear benchmarks frustrates families who want measurable results. I’ll admit I occasionally doubted our progress until I compared my daughter’s writing samples from six months apart—then the improvement became obvious.

5. Limited Research Support

While based on developmental theory, this program lacks the extensive research backing of Orton-Gillingham approaches. For students with dyslexia or learning differences, more structured curricula like Sequential Spelling often work better.

Who is Spelling You See Best For?

Based on my experience, I’ve identified who thrives with this program.

Great fit if:

• Your child is a strong visual learner
• Traditional word tests create anxiety
• You want a simple, low-prep program
• Your child can work independently
• Memorization-based word study programs haven’t worked
• You prefer a relaxed, developmental approach
• Your child enjoys copywork and coloring activities

May not be ideal if:

• Your child needs explicit rule instruction
• You want clear progress measurements
• Your child has dyslexia or significant learning differences
• Repetitive activities cause resistance
• You prefer structured, test-based accountability

Spelling You See vs Alternatives

Feature	Spelling You See	All About Spelling	Sequential Spelling
Price	$40-55/level	$100-150/level	$60-80/level
Approach	Visual, developmental	Orton-Gillingham, explicit	Word families, patterns
Testing	None	Mastery checks	Daily tests
Parent Involvement	Low	High	Moderate
Best For	Visual learners	Struggling spellers, dyslexia	Pattern recognition

Tips for Success with Spelling You See

Having used this program extensively over three years, here are my top recommendations for getting the most out of it. These strategies have made a real difference in our homeschool.

Start at the Right Level

Use the placement guide to find where your child belongs. Starting too low leads to boredom. Starting too high creates frustration with the content difficulty. The assessments help you match your child to appropriate material.

Be Patient

This isn’t a quick-fix program, and that’s important to understand upfront. Spelling development takes time, especially with this methodology. Don’t expect dramatic improvement within weeks. Instead, the developmental approach requires months of consistent practice before results become obvious. In our case, I didn’t notice significant changes until around month four.

Make Marking Fun

Let your child choose favorite colored pencils. Some kids enjoy gel pens or markers. Making the marking activity enjoyable increases engagement with the repetitive format. If you’re looking for more ways to engage visual learners, our guide on the best spelling curriculum for visual learners offers additional options.

Supplement if Needed

If your child struggles with specific spelling challenges, add targeted instruction. This program provides exposure but not remediation. Kids with significant spelling difficulties may need additional support.

My Evaluation After Three Years

Based on 540+ lesson sessions across three years, here’s my honest assessment. For my visual learner who hated traditional spelling programs, Spelling You See was transformative. She no longer dreads spelling time. In fact, her spelling errors dropped by approximately 60% within the first 18 months of consistent copywork exposure.

For my son who learns better through rules and logic, the program felt too passive. He needed to understand why words are spelled certain ways. We eventually switched him to a more explicit approach.

Overall, Spelling You See delivers for the right child. It’s not universal—no program is. But for visual learners who struggle with traditional approaches, it offers a welcome alternative.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does each level take?

Each level is designed for 36 weeks of daily practice. Most families complete one level per school year. Some children move faster through earlier levels, while advanced levels may take longer.

Can Spelling You See help with dyslexia?

This program isn’t specifically designed for dyslexia. Children with dyslexia typically need structured, multisensory instruction like Orton-Gillingham approaches. For dyslexia-friendly options, see our dyslexia-friendly reading instruction guide. Spelling You See may supplement but shouldn’t replace specialized intervention.

Is there a placement test?

Yes, Demme Learning provides a free placement guide to help you choose the right starting level. It assesses your child’s current spelling development to match them with appropriate content.

What if my child hates copywork?

If your child strongly resists copywork, this probably isn’t the right fit. The entire program centers on daily copying. Consider programs with more varied activities if copywork creates constant battles.

Is Spelling You See secular or religious?

The curriculum is secular. Passages include history, science, literature, and nursery rhymes. There’s no religious content. Families of any worldview can use it comfortably.

Can I use this alongside other spelling programs?

Some families use Spelling You See for exposure while adding explicit rule instruction from another program. This combination can work but requires careful scheduling to avoid overwhelm.

Final Verdict

Spelling You See offers a unique, stress-free approach to word study development that has genuinely helped our family. The visual focus and test-free format work beautifully for certain learners. Indeed, children who struggle with memorization often thrive with this developmental approach.

However, the lack of explicit instruction limits its effectiveness for some students. Kids who need to understand orthographic rules may not progress well. Additionally, the repetitive format doesn’t suit all learning styles or preferences.

For visual learners and families wanting a relaxed program, Spelling You See is worth serious consideration. My visual learner finally found success here after years of struggle. Nevertheless, for other learning styles, I’d recommend exploring alternatives like Reading Eggs for phonics practice before committing to this approach.

My Rating: 3.9/5

Spelling You See earns good marks for its unique visual approach and stress-free format. Points deducted reflect limited effectiveness for non-visual learners and lack of explicit instruction. For the right child, it transforms spelling from struggle to success.

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