Poor spelling - help me decide

[scrapbabe]

 

My 13 and 10 yr old boys are pretty good readers (13yo is way above grade level) but can't spell worth a lick. I don't know that AAS really excites me. It seems like the tiles and all might be a little baby-ish. I've been looking at Saxon Phonics Intervention - but it says it's for struggling readers/spellers. What would you suggest? Or a different program all together. I want them to learn the rules for phonics/spelling.

 

 

 

Smiles,

Shalynn

Edited March 26, 2010 by scrapbabe

[wy_kid_wrangler04]

Spelling power is great for learning the rules! That is what we use. Also you could add in Apples daily spelling drills. I am doing that combo with my dc and the results are amazing! Now, 1 thing, do not do the apples in order that the book goes, do the rules in the apples books based on the rules they are on in the spelling power! Otherwise it will confuse them!

 

http://www.castlemoyle.com/shopping/spellingpowermenu.htm spelling power

 

http://www.cathyduffyreviews.com/spelling-vocabulary/apples.htm apples daily spelling drills. This comes in two volumes

 

http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/Apples+-+Daily+Spelling+Drills+for+Sec+Stdnts/017131/1269628663-778062 volume 1

 

http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/Apples+2%3A+Daily+Phonics+Drills+Secondary+Stdn/025602/1269628663-778062 volume 2

[Lovedtodeath]

How to Teach Spelling from Orton-Gillingham.com

 

It includes all of the phonograms, rules, syllabication and a lot of dictation. Those are all of the points that are important! There is a bit about word history in the later levels as well.

[SilverMoon]

I like Rod and Staff spelling for good phonics based instruction. There's nothing flashy about it, but it gets the job done well. The kids really have to work with the spelling rules.

[EmeraldGirl]

We really are getting the whole rules and phonograms down pat with Spell to Write and Read, and there are many testimonals from folks who are using it to remediate their older children. Nothing childish about the program either. You use your own notebook.

[Mommy7]

Just wanted to comment that you can do AAS with whiteboard or paper, if you like. You don't have to use the tiles. With my 13 yo and 11 yo, I use the tiles for the teaching part, but they just write out the lists.

 

Thought I would mention also that I am considering Phonetic Zoo for my oldest. She is a very motivated, independent student and I think she would like it. It has the rules too. I'll continue with AAS with my others though, I think. It is so super easy to use and thorough. Hth.

[Guest]

MegaWords comes to mind.

[Aurelia]

Apples & Pears

[i.love.lucy]

MegaWords comes to mind.

:iagree:I'm planning to use this next year with my 5th grader. I looks fabulous and has lots of good reviews!

[rainforest mama]

We really are getting the whole rules and phonograms down pat with Spell to Write and Read, and there are many testimonals from folks who are using it to remediate their older children. Nothing childish about the program either. You use your own notebook.

:iagree:

 

I just got this in the mail and haven't had a chance to impliment it yet, but I really love how rigorous this looks. I bought it to remediate my DD11's spelling. We were using SWO, and she was learning nothing.

 

Lana

[KathyBC]

:iagree:I'm planning to use this next year with my 5th grader. I looks fabulous and has lots of good reviews!

 

I third Megawords.

[rafiki]

.

[Michelle O. in MO]

We really are getting the whole rules and phonograms down pat with Spell to Write and Read, and there are many testimonals from folks who are using it to remediate their older children. Nothing childish about the program either. You use your own notebook.

 

We've used this program for the past three years. I love it and by no means is it babyish.

[One Busy Mom of 5]

Spelling Power (for 8+)!!

 

Here's why we love it:

*short 15 minute lessons (though we probably go a little over)

*buy one book... for all students, all the way through 12th

(one less curriculum book to worry about each year!)

*study steps use multiple senses for better results (and it's "funner" anyway)

*Moving at a slow and easy pace (and only 4 days a week), we easily finish a level during the school year. ( I hate having to push it out to finish like some curriculums we've tried-not effective!)

*students focus only on words they misspell, and only up to a few at a time

*And as an added bonus, it's fun for adults to try to spell some of the lists. (We have had fun with that!)

 

Hope this helps. Good luck. :)

[tiffanyl]

My older kids really like Phonetic zoo. They love that they can do it independently.

 

We have used SWR in the past and it's a really great program too but, very mom involved.

 

My kids just really prefer, as they get older, to have a spelling program they can do on their own.

[siloam]

My 13 and 10 yr old boys are pretty good readers (13yo is way above grade level) but can't spell worth a lick. I don't know that AAS really excites me. It seems like the tiles and all might be a little baby-ish. I've been looking at Saxon Phonics Intervention - but it says it's for struggling readers/spellers. What would you suggest? Or a different program all together. I want them to learn the rules for phonics/spelling.

 

 

 

Smiles,

Shalynn

 

Shalynn,

 

My question is why can't they spell? Is there any signs of dyslexia or other LD? Do they have the ability to picture words in their minds? What type of learners are they?

 

What I have found is my oldest two can spell well, and both have the ability to think of a word and spell it from what they see in their mind. My 8yo and I think in pictures, and we both really struggle to see words in our minds. Right now I am using Seeing Stars, which is designed to develop the ability to see words in the mind. I have seen improvement in my 8yo since we started the program, and I am also developing the ability to see words in my mind as well (I do the exercises with her). You can buy the manual and use it with any spelling program, or you can buy the whole system. It can be used to learn to read, so I don't recommend the whole package for spelling.

 

If there is an LD present o/g methods are the best to use. Generally LD's represent a processing problem, where the brain gets stuck. Orton Gillingham (o/g) methods work for these students because they are multi-sensory (thus the tiles for hands on). The brain stores each sense in a different place in the brain, so by using multiple senses you are storing the information in multiple places and then the child has a better chance of retrieving the information later. If one pathway in the brain is blocked causing recall problems, another pathway can be used. If you only use one sense when learning the information there is only one place the information is stored, and if that pathway is blocked then recall is impossible till the block is gone.

 

Lastly keep the child's learning style in mind. Multi-sensory would of course take care of any learning style. After that I think it is Calvert that has spelling CD's for the auditory learner, Sequential Spelling would be very visual, as would be a lot of workbooks, and for hands on you are back to a multi-sensory program.

 

In the end though if they don't care if they spell incorrectly, nothing is going to help except a change of attitude. If you suspect that is the problem the I suggest you drop spelling till they ask for it.

 

Heather

[homeschoolally]

My older kids really like Phonetic zoo. They love that they can do it independently.

 

We have used SWR in the past and it's a really great program too but, very mom involved.

 

My kids just really prefer, as they get older, to have a spelling program they can do on their own.

 

:iagree: I think most of the other programs listed are great as well, but the independence of Phonetic Zoo has been a HUGE + for my pre-teen poor speller.

[scrapbabe]

Mostly they don't spell because I have never done formal spelling with them. My oldest can learn through any method. He just loves learning. So I could give him any spelling program and he'd do fine. My younger son - I haven't figured out yet. I thought he was more of a hands-on learner, but, I'm not sure anymore. He needs something very straight forward and to the point. I don't think he could handle trying to memorize all the spelling/phonics rules. I don't think he'd convert that into usable knowledge. I think he needs to see spelling in it's context. He doesn't like to do worksheets, etc. when it isn't applied to something he can see and use regularly.

I think rule oriented spelling makes sense - so you don't have to memorize every word in the English language. However, I can see him getting frustrated by "rules" and not context. Does that make sense?

I don't think there are any learning disabilities. He does have a hard time processing too much abstract information. But once he finds something he likes he can focus on it and do really well.

Any thoughts?

I appreciate all the comments so far.

 

Smiles,

Shalynn

[siloam]

Mostly they don't spell because I have never done formal spelling with them. My oldest can learn through any method. He just loves learning. So I could give him any spelling program and he'd do fine. My younger son - I haven't figured out yet. I thought he was more of a hands-on learner, but, I'm not sure anymore. He needs something very straight forward and to the point. I don't think he could handle trying to memorize all the spelling/phonics rules. I don't think he'd convert that into usable knowledge. I think he needs to see spelling in it's context. He doesn't like to do worksheets, etc. when it isn't applied to something he can see and use regularly.

I think rule oriented spelling makes sense - so you don't have to memorize every word in the English language. However, I can see him getting frustrated by "rules" and not context. Does that make sense?

I don't think there are any learning disabilities. He does have a hard time processing too much abstract information. But once he finds something he likes he can focus on it and do really well.

Any thoughts?

I appreciate all the comments so far.

 

Smiles,

Shalynn

 

Shalynn,

 

For your oldest I would use Megawords, it will work on spelling, reinforce phonics and I am told has a vocab element to it. At 13 it would be nice to have the vocab added in there. Another simpler option would be Apples spelling (if you don't mind religious content).

 

For you 10yo I am not sure. I would probably try what ever you decide for your oldest first, just to try to make your life simpler. The other possibility is to just do dictation, and use a book like ABC's and All Their Tricks as a reference to explain rules to him when he does misspell a word. He can always follow the path your oldest is taking when he is a littler older.

 

Heather

 

[Lovedtodeath]

Have you looked at Simply Spelling? Or maybe you could go over his writing and apply the rules to the words he has misspelled.

[Lori D.]

Megawords

It is geared for older students (gr. 4 or 5 and UP). It is most done solo by the student. It teaches vowel patterns and syllabication rules. It helps students learn the "rules" for individual syllables and then be able to apply them to longer words.

 

Our struggling speller really has improved since using Megawords. In addition, as an individualized remedial program we're creating ourselves, we are slowly working our way through "The ABCs and All Their Tricks" to teach the various sounds letters can have (and when). Especially helpful for us has been daily out loud practice back and forth; but also working with words as on a whiteboard (adding endings, prefixes, etc.; practicing homophones; practiciing syllables); and towards the end of the week, practicing words as part of dictation of short sentences with spelling words in them.

 

 

BEST of luck in finding what works best with your DSs! Warmly, Lori D.

[Lovedtodeath]

Megawords

It is geared for older students (gr. 4 or 5 and UP). It is most done solo by the student. It teaches vowel patterns and syllabication rules. It helps students learn the "rules" for individual syllables and then be able to apply them to longer words.

Do you think Megawords would take care of the context problem?

[Lori D.]

Do you think Megawords would take care of the context problem?

 

 

Yes, I think from how Shalynn described how her DS needed context (I reprinted it below), that Megawords would do that. HOWEVER, I also think it would be *critical* for the first 2 years or so to reinforce with additional one-on-one practice. I've listed specific practices that helped us most below. BEST of luck in your spelling endeavors! Warmest regards, Lori D.

 

1. Out Loud (4x/week, 3-5 min/day)

(idea from Andrew Pudewa/Phonetic Zoo)

You clearly say the word aloud, spell it (syllable by syllable if that helps), and toss the child a beanie toy; then the student says the word/spells it correctly, and tosses the beanie back. The beanie toss helps keep him focused and mentally prepared. *Immediately* stop and correct any misspelling by spelling it aloud correctly several times and have the student spell it correctly by looking at it and reading it letter by letter several times. Hearing the letters in correct sequential order really helps cement correct spelling in the mind. For the first few days, I also have the spelling list written big on the whiteboard in front of us to have him LOOK at it letter by letter as he is saying/spelling it.

 

 

2. Work with words on whiteboard (3x/week, 5-10 min/day)

(expanded from original idea from Sequential Spelling; last idea expaned from visual mnemonics ideas from Stevenson Blue Spelling Manual)

a.) reinforce vowel patterns, syllabication patterns, etc. from Megawords

b.) see context: start with a small "root" or syllable in one color; start adding to the root in a different color, ending with a long vertical column:

hop

hop•ped

hop•ping

hope

hoped

hop•ing

hope•less

hope•ful

hope•ful•ly

un•hope•ful•ly

c.) root words/adding endings, prefixes, etc. -- tell it and draw it as a story with character pictures (ex.: "hope" -- the vowels at the end of the word like to fight with vowels at the beginning of an ending (like "-ing", or "-ed"), so you have to drop the "-e" at the end of "hope" and then add the endings such as "-er" or "-ing"; adding endings such as "-ful" or "-less", or prefixes such as "-un" are not a problem, because they start with a consonant, and consonants don't fight with the vowel at the end of the word)

d.) Homophones -- see the different spellings, and draw a picture or tell a little story to help the difference stick (ex: "meet" and "meat"; it takes 2 people to "meet" and there are 2 "e"s in "meet"; draw the letter "a" to look like a heart and say "I love to eat "meat" -- and see, the word "eat" is IN the word "meat"; etc.)

 

 

3. Dictate sentences (1-2x/week; 5-10 min./day)

(idea from Stevenson Basic Blue Spelling Manual)

Dictate 5 short sentences, (slowly, one at a time) each with 2-3 spelling words in them for student to practice simultaneous thinking/writing/spelling.

 

 

4. Kinetic Spelling Practice Ideas (3x/week; 5 min/day)

a.) Say each letter and use fingertip to write each letter in a tray of sand or cornmeal. Helps the child see, say and feel the spelling.

b.) OR -- Fingertip on tabletop; write each letter large (involve whole arm), saying each letter. Helps the child see, say, and feel the spelling.

c.) OR -- Child say each letter aloud while writing it; then child "unwrites" the word, saying each letter and going over the letter with fingertip to erase it letter by letter. Helps the child see, say and feel the spelling.

 

 

... My younger son... I thought he was more of a hands-on learner, but, I'm not sure anymore. He needs something very straight forward and to the point. I don't think he could handle trying to memorize all the spelling/phonics rules. I don't think he'd convert that into usable knowledge. I think he needs to see spelling in it's context. He doesn't like to do worksheets, etc. when it isn't applied to something he can see and use regularly.

I think rule oriented spelling makes sense - so you don't have to memorize every word in the English language. However, I can see him getting frustrated by "rules" and not context. Does that make sense?

I don't think there are any learning disabilities. He does have a hard time processing too much abstract information. But once he finds something he likes he can focus on it and do really well.

[scrapbabe]

Lori,

Thanks so much. That is VERY helpful! I can see us doing those things. Thanks to everyone for sharing their ideas. It has really helped me wrap my mind around it.

 

Smiles,

Shalynn

[Reya]

How about Pollard's Synthetic Speller, amazing and available FREE on Google books?