Spelling and Phonics

[TheBugs]

My twins are almost 7. They recently took a reading evaluation and they are reading on a fourth and fifth grade level. But their spelling score indicated that they were both spelling on a 2nd grade level. (They got the same score for spelling and I think the same wrong words) Last year, they took the same test, which indicated that they were spelling and reading on a 2nd grade level. So they have improved a lot in reading, but made virtually no improvement in spelling.

 

We've been using Spelling Workout B this year and they seemed to be doing well with it. For a weekly test they usually get everything right, but I noticed that they don't always seem to retain the ability to spell these words at a later date. Since their reading abilities are quite far ahead of their spelling abilities, I feel that I need to be doing something different. Also, since this is with both children, I figure it has to have something to do with my teaching or the materials I am using.

 

The teacher/evaluator recommended that I use a phonics program. I thought that Spelling Workout sort of covered phonics, but I guess it is not thorough enough, I don't want to use a program that is teaching how to read, because that would be too boring, since they are pretty solid readers. (I used 100 EZ Lessons to initially teach reading starting when they were 5 and when they each completed it, they just read books)

 

Can anybody recommend a good phonics program appropriate to this situation?

 

Would a different spelling program be a better fit?

 

Thanks :)

[Ellie]

Spelling and phonics are not the same thing. I disagree with your evaluator that doing more phonics will help their spelling. o_0

 

IIRC, SWB likes Spelling Workout, so it can't be all bad. And your dc are just 7yo; I'm not surprised that their spelling scores are not equal to their reading scores.

 

Children need to use their spelling words in their daily lives, not just in their spelling lists. The more they read and write, the more the words they meet in their spelling lists will stay in their memories.

 

Of course, if you can always do Spalding or one of its spin-offs, because they teach children to reach by teaching them to spell, which means they do a fine job of helping children who already read well to improve their spelling skills, too.

 

But I'm not convinced that your dc need something more/different at this point. Do SWO, have them use their spelling words in sentences, correct their spelling in their writing assignments, and so on.

[jessj]

I had this same problem with one of my kids. She could memorize a spelling list, but later had no idea how to spell things.

 

We decided to start using All About Spelling. It has been fabulous. After just level 1 she started spelling so much better that it felt like a miracle! lol!

 

I've also heard that Spelling Power is another good one to try.

[MerryAtHope]

Hm. I'm inclined to think that 6 yo's who can spell at a 2nd grade level are slightly advanced. I can see why not making progress since last year might be a little disconcerting, but I wouldn't expect them to be able to spell as well as they can read. Overall, it sounds like they are still spelling ahead of grade level...I think that's great!

 

If you are looking for a program that teaches how phonics relates to spelling and teaches spelling rules and concepts though, you might like All About Spelling. That lays everything out for you, and would fit with what your evaluator was recommending. Take a look and see if it's a fit for you and your kids.

 

 

At their age, spelling isn't very automatic yet, and they may just need more practiceAt their age, spelling isn't very automatic yet, and they may just need more practice to help them remember what they learn. This article relates to AAS, but does have other ideas you can use over time to help them develop automaticity in their spelling.

 

HTH some!

 

Merry :-)

[LadyMandy]

My daughter is 8 and seemingly can't remember how to spell a thing. Spelling came naturally for me. We've been using the Reason for Spelling workbook and homemade spelling tiles like AAS. I'm wondering if I should just buy AAS or get the Phonetic Zoo. I've done a mis-match of things for reading - Reading Made Easy primarily but also The Reading Lesson, Sonlight's readers, Explode the Code, Critical Thinking Language Smarts, and others. I have the Winter Promise vertical phonics 1st grade set I was thinking of using next. I wish I could just find one thing I like the best that integrated everything I want her to learn. Suggestions welcome!

[Ellie]

My daughter is 8 and seemingly can't remember how to spell a thing. Spelling came naturally for me. We've been using the Reason for Spelling workbook and homemade spelling tiles like AAS. I'm wondering if I should just buy AAS or get the Phonetic Zoo. I've done a mis-match of things for reading - Reading Made Easy primarily but also The Reading Lesson, Sonlight's readers, Explode the Code, Critical Thinking Language Smarts, and others. I have the Winter Promise vertical phonics 1st grade set I was thinking of using next. I wish I could just find one thing I like the best that integrated everything I want her to learn. Suggestions welcome!

 

 

Phonics and spelling aren't the same thing. :-)

 

If you want something to improve spelling, then I guess AAS would be the direction to go. Of course, I, being a Spalding geek, prefer Spalding, lol, but people report good results with AAS (Spalding is less expensive in the long run. Just sayin'...)

[Tracy]

I seem to remember reading in WTM that it is very common for children not to be able to apply the spelling they have learned until about 4th grade.

 

I agree with Ellie. Phonics for reading and spelling are not the same thing. Decoding and encoding are two different skills.

 

I also have two advanced readers, but they both like to learn to read by memorizing the words. When my oldest got to be old enough to write, she would get so frustrated, because even though she was spelling at grade level, her reading and composition level was more advanced. She would get so frustrated knowing she was not spelling the words right. I now use Spell to Write and Read, and it really helps my advanced readers keep up on their spelling, allowing them to write the kind of things that they are able to read. It intensive, phonics-based spelling. This is our third year with SWR, and dd8 just scored at 5th grade level for spelling. She is not a natural speller, so I credit SWR with this score.