Need separate spelling program for 1st grade?

[scrapper4life]

I've been looking at options for 1st grade spelling and they all look so much like the phonics workbooks I'm planning to use. SO...do I need a separate program for spelling? I'm just thinking of 1st grade, when there is so much phonics instruction. It makes sense to do spelling other years, but it seems like a lot of double-doing to add it in first. Thoughts? Anyone else considered/tried skipping a formal spelling program during phonics?

[Rosie_0801]

Lots of people wait until their kids are reading comfortably before starting spelling. I did, but I'd have started earlier if I'd seen Apples and Pears earlier because of the focus on auditory discernment and dd would have liked it. I wasn't using a workbook for phonics though. You can have too much of a good thing!

 

You probably can't make the wrong decision here. :) If you have an older grade one kid who could cope with another 10mins of English each day, you might as well do it. If not, it can happily wait. My decision to start spelling was triggered by dd signing letters FU (her name.) I'm not sure what that stood for and neither would the recipient have if I'd been willing to post them.  :scared:

 

 

[Kiara.I]

I started spelling with my Grades almost-3 and almost-1 at the same time.  Not too long after that, I dropped it for the almost-1.  It was just too much drama for not enough progress.  I've decided I won't start spelling with him again until he's in Grade 2.  Possible 2.5.  ;)

 

So yes, by all means skip spelling in Grade 1!

[AdventuresinHomeschooling]

If it is included with your phonics program, it is not necessary to do a separate program.  We do SSRW, and it's included.  Therefore, we won't start until second grade with Spelling Workout.

 

It's important for children to start spelling words though in first grade, even if you just start a simple word bank from their phonics and quiz them on a few words every day.  This way they start to recognize the spelling of frequently used words instead of their own phonetic and creative spellings.  You could also use the Dolch frequently used sight word list as a start.

[SilverMoon]

Skip it. When a child is reading fluently a good spelling book takes over the phonics instruction. My kids have only done one of those at a time.

[nature girl]

The only thing I've been doing for spelling is trying to teach my DD simple rules as they pop up while she's writing (e.g., "oy" for the end of words/syllables, and "oi" for the middle...) But I haven't done a formal spelling program, and tbh I may never, depending on how well her spelling develops as she writes more. I think so much of spelling can be picked up naturally through reading.

[PagesandFields]

I use McGuffey spelling as a sneaky way to reinforce phonics and handwriting... But my kiddo has a low tolerance for imperfection so I have to be sneaky quite often... We don't do workbooks for phonics, but I might add one either for phonics or spelling, but not both. I used to be completely not interested in spelling at this age but I have seen how it reinforces reading without the "learn to read this" pressure... If that makes sense...

[Coco_Clark]

I start spelling after finishing phonics...because you are right, they are very much the same thing :)

 

My oldest made the switch at 2nd grade.

[Targhee]

We also start spelling when we've finished reading instruction. I like AAS and LOE Essentials for spelling instructions (one or the other, each is a great program). Investing heavily in spelling early on has big pay out later (meaning you won't have to do spelling forever). My kids stop spelling and switch to 2nd language when they're proficient at basic spelling skills (somewhere around 5th grade). Honestly, I have switched my natural spellers to Sequential Spelling DVDs after three levels/two years of directed spelling (in either AAS or LOE).