TracyP Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 My ds is 5 (6 in Oct.) We have dabbled in phonics... 100 EZL, ETC 3, a little PP... but he always got bored. We had a baby and a busy year last year so we just quit phonics. I wanted to get serious with him this year so I planned to start spelling but now I'm rethinking. I don't think continuing phonics is necessary at this point. He is very good, very avid reader. Font size and stamina (or lack of) are about the only things holding his reading back. Spelling is feeling very pointless. He does not want to "do school" so I am attempting to make it quick and painless so he can go on with his day. When he does (rarely) put pencil to paper on his own, he seems to be a pretty decent speller. My dd is a natural speller and I suspect he will be too. Would anyone feel comfortable ditching phonics and spelling with a 5/6 yo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Yep, I did with my oldest. She blasted through phonics in 3 months at just-turned-4 and then I didn't do any spelling until last year in 3rd grade. I would periodically test her using the Schonell Spelling Test and she would always come out way about grade level. When she decided she wanted to do a formal spelling program, she placed into Level G (7th grade) of Spelling Power. I backed her up and did selected lists in E & F, then she did G, H, and I before I decided to take spelling out of our LA loop so that she could focus more on other aspects. She has expressed an interest in doing spelling bees, so I'm planning on putting it back in the loop next month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Would anyone feel comfortable ditching phonics and spelling with a 5/6 yo? Absolutely. The push for early academics is a very American thing - in many other countries, formal schooling does not begin until the kids are 6 or 7. If he already READS, let him just read. he will improve with practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boscopup Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I agree with dropping it for now, but in a couple years or so add it back in IF he hasn't gotten past the 4th grade level multi-syllable words. If he's already gotten past them at that point and still spells well, no worries. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenbrdsly Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I agree with dropping it for now, but in a couple years or so add it back in IF he hasn't gotten past the 4th grade level multi-syllable words. If he's already gotten past them at that point and still spells well, no worries. :) :iagree: I'd just let the kid read away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staceyshoe Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 My ds taught himself to read and was reading encyclopedias before we did any phonics instruction. He does read phonetically, but I was concerned about gaps since he was self-taught. I could not find any reading & phonics curriculum that would be appropriate for him, so we started using AAS for phonics instruction. We'll probably complete all 7 levels in 2 years and spelling words are very easy for him, but he's an extremely structured thinker and appreciates the rules. It's a good program for a kid who loves rules and is already reading well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 My dd also taught herself to read before it occurred to me to start teaching her formally, so we never did phonics. I did not teach spelling, assuming that as an avid reader she would also be a natural speller. She wasn't; and it took a number of years to discover the underlying visual processing and visual memory issues at play. These are now resolved. If they hadn't been in the picture I doubt whether we would have followed a spelling program either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TracyP Posted August 12, 2011 Author Share Posted August 12, 2011 (edited) Thank you all. He is reading Farmer Boy and a couple nonfiction books on birds (late elementary level, I would guess) right now. This forum can be kind of crazy with the "must have systematic phonics instruction" mantra so I was nervous about dropping it. I have AAS and I think he would actually enjoy it. I'm just not sure if it is worth the time commitment right now. I will revisit this at some point in the future. Edited August 12, 2011 by TracyP had to clarify 'forum not board' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 I never did spelling with my oldest, and I just throw spelling workout work books at my oldest. But really she just needed more time with the pencil in her hand, the spelling is clicking just like it did with my oldest. My oldest went to 2 years of PS, but never had to study a spelling word. He always knew them. But he did get more writing practice being in the classroom all day. I'd just make sure he was practicing writing and reading. Some kids just don't need a formal spelling program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenbrdsly Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 Thank you all. He is reading Farmer Boy and a couple nonfiction books on birds (late elementary level, I would guess) right now. This board can be kind of crazy with the "must have systematic phonics instruction" mantra so I was nervous about dropping it. I have AAS and I think he would actually enjoy it. I'm just not sure if it is worth the time commitment right now. I will revisit this at some point in the future. We have just finished level 1 AAS, and are now doing level 2 with my six year old. It is really just taking about 10-15 minutes a session. It has a lot of phonics built in. So if you already have that at your disposal (if you want), then I really wouldn't worry about spelling at all. Farmer Boy is Guided Reading level Q, or 4.3 grade. There is no way your son would be able to read that if he didn't already know a lot of phonics!!!! Way to go! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaichiki Posted August 14, 2011 Share Posted August 14, 2011 Would anyone feel comfortable ditching phonics and spelling with a 5/6 yo? I've done it with two kids. Older one is now 12 and has always been a strong speller and an insatiable reader. The other one is 5.5 and reads at about a late 2nd-early 3rd grade level (I think). He doesn't write much yet, but we talk through the spellings (sounding out) when he asks. I was thinking of starting All About Spelling with him this year... maybe we'll just use the magnet tiles (I put them on the fridge) and hold off on the pencil-to-paper part just yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momoeight Posted August 14, 2011 Share Posted August 14, 2011 At that age I would ditch structured spelling. I cannot say enough good things about Starfall.com for a fun way for your child to learn phonics, reading and spelling. And just read on the lap a lot! Doesn't get better than that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TracyR Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 Absolutely. The push for early academics is a very American thing - in many other countries, formal schooling does not begin until the kids are 6 or 7. If he already READS, let him just read. he will improve with practice. You know after being on early education boards I find that this statement is not so very true at all. You have no idea how many parents push early education at young ages in other countries. More so than here. Formal education may not start until 6 or 7 but these kids are pretty advanced by the time they start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaichiki Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 You know after being on early education boards I find that this statement is not so very true at all. You have no idea how many parents push early education at young ages in other countries. More so than here.Formal education may not start until 6 or 7 but these kids are pretty advanced by the time they start. My dh's family is always telling me that kids in Russia don't start school until they're 7... but then they tell me how dh was in Kindergarten (day care/preschool) since he was like 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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