We did something similar to what you're describing when DS8 was 6 and 7, Shari. We haven't done it this year because looking up words he doesn't know (or figuring them out from context) seems to be second-nature to him and we've been focusing on learning cursive. I didn't want the newness of the writing to get in his way. But I thought that strategy was a pretty efficient way to get handwriting, spelling and vocabulary development done in one fell swoop.

Kriston