I do understand being careful with the money!
We have only used the Sequential Spelling 1 for Homeschoolers book, and we've been impressed. If you order it, be sure to specify "for Homeschoolers." I didn't purchase their recording book - I just bought pads of paper for 99 cents at the drugstore, and the kids use a new page everyday. The kids also need pencils with an eraser, and I use a whiteboard with a dry erase marker - but this isn't absolutely necessary.
The program binder has everything you need to administer the program, so you really only need the one book mentioned above. Everyday - 5 days a week (or whatever you decide is right for your family), the parent dictates the day's list of words to the child/ren. After the first week, there are 25 words per day. You can eliminate any words you like, add your own related spelling word in also. For example, they spell "I" "eye" and "aye." I cut out the "aye, ayes" etc. - personal decision. The parent says a word, uses it in a sentence, repeats the word, and the child spells the word to the best of their ability. The parent then writes the word and spells the word for the child to see. The *child* then corrects the word on his/her own paper. The parent then says the next word, puts it in a sentence, etc. on down the line.
The words are grouped by "sound family," and suffixes and prefixes are added in a logical and sequential manner to the basic sound chunk. For example, on day 21 you introduce the sound combination "at" (at, bat, rat, brat, etc.), on day 22 the words with that sound combo are lengthened (bats, rats, flats, etc.), on day 23: batted, flatter, on day 24: batting ratting, etc. etc. by day 32 they are spelling chattering, and splattered with no problems and no memorizing.
Earlier in the program, the concept of doubling the consonant was introduced, and by day 22, my kids had that down. Several sound combos are worked on each day, so for example, on day 32 in addition to chattering, and splattering, they are spelling admitting, committing, permitting, etc., and upholding, withholding, and molding, and bolder - and a few more.
As you can see, the difficulty level increases quickly, which is why I wouldn't really recommend it to a child younger than 8.
In the instructions, the parent is instructed to not give the kids any hints, and to say the words as if you were saying them in normal speech. Sometimes I "cheat" on this part and say stuff like: "could" it rhymes with "would" and "should." I also say things like: splatter - ing, so they can better hear the word parts. It seems to help my daughter. Now my kids say woulda coulda shoulda! to help them remember that these 3 words have similar odd spellings. I also have a dictionary with me, because the kids will ask the meaning of a word, or a few times I couldn't think of a sentence because I wasn't exactly sure of the meaning of a word!
HTH
Laura
