Where to go with spelling--or drop it?

[amys]

Hi,

I've been HSing DS11 for 2 1/2 years, and will also be HSing DS13 for 8th grade this fall (help!!) Both of them are excellent spellers, overall. I have been using Spelling Workout with DS11, and got most of the way through level F with him last year, during his official 4th grade year. We kind of petered out because he already knew how to spell most of the words, so we ended up skipping a lot of units entirely. I am trying to decide whether to just quit formal spelling lessons entirely and focus on word study, or to seek out a different curriculum. Does anyone have any suggestions for me?

 

Thanks!

Amy

[abbeyej]

I'd go with word study. Some kids simply don't need to spend time on spelling -- and as I can *always* find some other use for our time... ;)

[amys]

That was kind of my inclination, but I worry that I'm just being lazy! :)

[MSNative]

Have you looked at Spelling Power? It goes through grade 12. My kids hated spelling workbooks, but like this program - very efficient (less than 10 min. 2 times a week for us). If you feel like they are fine w/o formal spelling, you can just make your own spelling lists from misspellings on their writing. Otherwise, I agree, you can move on to word study.

[DarlaS]

Drop it - and don't look back.

 

I bought Spelling Power our first year on the suggestion of many homeschoolers, and my both of sons (9 and 12 at the time) tested into the grade 12 level.

 

I could definitely have used that money elsewhere rather than cover something they clearly understood.

 

It turned out that my 9 yo (who had completed Saxon 65 at a private school--but was allowed to use a calculator) needed to relearn place value and how to multiply in columns. I had another use for that time after all. :glare:

[Ali in OR]

My 5th grader is moving on to vocab this year in place of spelling. Seems like a better use of our time at this point.

[5LittleMonkeys]

We used Spelling Power last year and started it this year. We really like the way the lessons are done but we are going to drop it. It is a complete waste of time for my older dd and the younger would be better served by compiling lists from her own misspellings. We do Latin so we learn lots of derivatives and I make sure they know how to spell all of the derivatives for each Latin vocab. word. They even compete to come up with more.

 

If you don't feel it is necessary or even want to go at spelling from a different direction don't feel guilty. Put the spelling book in the for sale pile and do a happy dance!

[savoybrwn]

Why not just increase their vocabulary so they will do well in SAT testing in the future. You could use their vocabulary words as spelling if you so desire. I would suggest Sadlier-Oxford. Am using it for my dd (12) in eighth grade. She is reading at a much higher level but am improving her vocabulary so she tests well later.:)

 

Dianna

[Guest mrsjamiesouth]

My 5th grader is moving on to vocab this year in place of spelling. Seems like a better use of our time at this point.

 

:iagree: We did the same thing this year. I dropped spelling too!

[Tracy]

My kids are little, so take this FWIW. I really don't see the point in doing a spelling program with a good speller at that age. He should be doing a fair amount of writing, and spelling should count when he does it. You might want to consider doing dictation. Or maybe study Latin/Greek roots.

[MerryAtHope]

I really don't see the point in doing a spelling program with a good speller at that age. He should be doing a fair amount of writing, and spelling should count when he does it. You might want to consider doing dictation. Or maybe study Latin/Greek roots.

 

:iagree:This, or vocabulary or a combo of both would be my focus with a natural speller too. If you see spelling errors in their writing, they can work on those. Sounds like your kids are ready to move on, rejoice!

 

Merry :-)

[amys]

Thanks for all the input! I've decided to drop spelling. We'll work on Vocabulary (Wordly Wise 3000) and word roots (Red Hot Root Words) instead!