Spelling You See
A visual spelling program from Demme Learning, the maker of Math-U-See. Seven skill-based levels use short daily passages for chunking letter patterns, copywork and dictation, with no word lists and no spelling tests.
What is Spelling You See?
Spelling You See is a spelling curriculum from Demme Learning in Lititz, Pennsylvania, the publisher of Math-U-See. Dr. Karen Holinga built it on research showing children move through predictable stages as they learn to spell. Its core claim: weekly word lists put words into short-term memory, and kids forget them. Instead, it uses short, meaningful passages and repetition to build visual memory.
There are no spelling tests and no word lists to memorize.
How it works
Each level has 36 lessons. From Level C on, each lesson is one passage worked on over five days. A typical day takes 10 to 15 minutes:
- Read the passage together and talk about tricky words.
- Chunk the passage: your child marks letter patterns, like vowel teams or silent letters, with colored pencils.
- Copy the passage for a set time, about 10 minutes, and stop when the timer ends.
- Later in the week, write the passage from your dictation.
Parents lead the reading and dictation but don't prep much. Levels A and B need the most parent time.
What it covers
| Level | Name | Passages and focus |
|---|---|---|
| A | Listen and Write | Letter sounds and formation |
| B | Jack and Jill | Nursery rhymes |
| C | Wild Tales | Animal facts |
| D | Americana | American history |
| E | American Spirit | American history, everyday words |
| F | Ancient Achievements | World history, word roots |
| G | Modern Milestones | Prefixes, suffixes, base words |
The levels follow five spelling stages, from preliterate and phonetic through skill development and word extension.
Who it's best for
It suits visual learners, families who want short and calm lessons, and homes that already use copywork and dictation. Older kids often like the history passages.
It's not the best fit for kids who need to understand spelling rules. Dyslexic learners usually do better with explicit, Orton-Gillingham-style teaching like All About Spelling or Logic of English.
Pricing at a glance
As of October 2026, a full Level B–G set costs $65.43 and the Level A set costs $42.03 on Demme's store. A second child needs only new student workbooks for $52.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
Spelling curriculum is commonly an allowable expense in education savings accounts, such as those on our Arizona ESA page and Florida scholarship page. Each program decides what it covers. Save Spelling You See to your wishlist and apply once on Edulist through scholarships for families.
How it compares
The big decision is All About Spelling vs Spelling You See: explicit rules and letter tiles versus visual patterns and copywork. Sequential Spelling groups word families and can be done more independently, and Spelling Shed adds game practice. Browse more spelling programs or homeschool curriculum.
Who Spelling You See is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Visual learners and kids who forget words after Friday's test
- Families who want 10- to 15-minute lessons with little prep
- Charlotte Mason and classical families who already use copywork and dictation
- Older kids who enjoy nonfiction history and animal passages
Look elsewhere if
- Kids with dyslexia who need explicit, rules-based instruction
- Parents who want grades, scores or weekly tests
- Children who need to work fully independently
Spelling You See pros and cons
Pros
- No word lists or tests
- Short, predictable daily routine
- Skill-based placement, not grade-based
- Engaging nonfiction passages
- Affordable, simple materials
Cons
- Spelling rules aren't taught explicitly
- Parent must lead dictation and the daily read-together
- Same passage all week can bore some kids
- Copywork is printed, not cursive
What’s included
- Seven levels matched to developmental spelling stages, placed by skill
- No word lists, no weekly tests and no rule memorization
- Daily routine of reading, chunking letter patterns, copywork and dictation
- Nonfiction passages about animals, American history and world history
- Timed copywork and dictation, about 10 minutes
- Instructor's Handbook plus consumable student workbooks
Spelling You See levels
| Level | Grades | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Level A: Listen and Write | By skill | For beginning readers still learning letter names and sounds. Practice writing letters, correct pencil grip, consonants and short vowels. |
| Level B: Jack and Jill | By skill | Studies words in nursery rhymes through letter patterns, copywork and dictation. For kids who print lowercase easily and know most letter sounds. |
| Level C: Wild Tales | By skill | Factual animal passages; students mark patterns, copy, write their own compositions and try dictation with help. |
| Level D: Americana | By skill | Passages about American history for proficient readers whose spelling is improving gradually. |
| Level E: American Spirit | By skill | More American history at a rising reading level, focused on mastering everyday words. |
| Level F: Ancient Achievements | By skill | Topics such as cave paintings, Viking ships and Marco Polo, plus an introduction to word roots. A bridge to the next spelling stage. |
| Level G: Modern Milestones | By skill | A new marking system for prefixes, suffixes and base words, with passages on artists, musicians and scientists. |
The free placement tool identifies your child's developmental spelling stage and recommends a level. Placement is by skill, not grade.
Official Spelling You See placement test ↗How much does Spelling You See cost?
As of October 2026, the Demme Learning store lists the Level A Listen and Write set at $42.03 and each Level B–G set (Instructor's Handbook plus Student Workbooks) at $65.43. Extra student workbooks for a second child are $52.00, and the Instructor's Handbook alone is $20.70. Some older 2014 edition sets are sold at clearance prices.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level A: Listen and Write set | $42.03 | One-time | — |
| Levels B–G set (handbook + student workbooks) | $65.43 | One-time | — |
| Student workbooks only (Levels B–G) | $52 | One-time | — |
| Instructor's Handbook only | $20.70 | One-time | — |
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
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Spelling You See FAQs
Who makes Spelling You See?
Demme Learning, the Pennsylvania company behind Math-U-See, publishes it. Dr. Karen Holinga created the program from research on how children move through stages of spelling development.
Does Spelling You See use word lists or tests?
No. The program skips weekly lists, tests and rule memorization. Kids build visual memory by marking letter patterns in a passage, copying it and writing it from dictation.
How do I place my child in Spelling You See?
Use the free placement tool on the Spelling You See site. It identifies your child's spelling stage, because levels follow skills, not grades. A beginning reader starts in Listen and Write.
How long are Spelling You See lessons?
Most days take 10 to 15 minutes. Copywork and dictation are timed for about 10 minutes, and you stop when time is up even if the page isn't done.
Is Spelling You See good for dyslexia?
Demme Learning reports success with some children who have language-based learning differences. Because it doesn't teach rules explicitly after the early levels, many dyslexia specialists prefer a structured, Orton-Gillingham-style program first.
Is Spelling You See Christian?
No. Passages focus on nursery rhymes, animals and history, and reviewers describe it as secular but Christian friendly.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources: