Grading the instructional part of the program is efficient. Concurrent with this skill-building instruction, my students learn to apply spelling skills in their writing. Now, I'll tell you about the application part of my program. In addition to the skill-based instruction, every time my students write they practice and apply their spelling and proofreading skills. Some words are expected to be spelled correctly all the time in their everyday writing.
Everyday writing includes assignments across the curriculum and journals.
Sometimes I complement the Priority Word list with words I call Special Words pertinent to a specific topic. I write perhaps five or six of them on the chalkboard for a reference. I randomly select everyday writing samples to check for the minimum spelling requirement. Students know that I'll be checking papers randomly for Priority Words and Special Words, never telling them when. I try to check one paper for every student every 4-6 days.