Spelling for middle school, help needed.

[Stirsmommy]

My dd needs a spelling program. Her spelling is becoming worse. She is going into seventh but the questions is what to get. I was thinking of running her through megawords from beginning to end. Would this be ok or is there something better?

Thanks

[5wolfcubs]

I'm using Apples w/ my 7th grader. It was designed from struggling spellers. :) I've heard good things about Megawords too.

[Lori D.]

We started Megawords with our struggling speller in 6th grade. It can be used as a stand alone program or as a supplement. We use it as a supplement to an individualized spelling program -- you could certainly use Megawords along with something else, like Apples or Sequential Speller or whatever, as it only takes 5-10 minutes a day to do a page of Megawords.

 

 

Also have to say that *working with words* has also made a *tremendous* difference in our son being able to understand spelling patterns and how to apply them. It takes us about 10, no more than 15 minutes, a day to put these ideas into practice -- I listed them below.

 

 

You might also find the following previous threads on spelling to be helpful:

 

- "Seems like a lot of spelling questions lately"

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6205

 

- "Remedial spelling for 7th grader?"

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3962

 

- "Please help me with spelling"

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3340

 

- "Need spelling and vocabulary help for dd [age 12]"

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1550

 

- "Megawords and Apples and Pears users"

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1635

 

 

 

 

 

How we work with works for spelling practice:

 

1. Practice spelling the words out loud (4x a week, 3-5 minutes/day)

(idea from Phonetic Zoo, and Andrew Pudewa's seminar on "Spelling & the Brain")

First you clearly say the word aloud, then spell it (syllable by syllable if that helps), and toss the child a beanie toy; then the student says the word/spells it correctly back to you, and tosses the beanie back to you. 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.

 

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

(idea from Sequential Spelling)

- reinforce vowel patterns, syllabication patterns, etc. from the lesson

- write out root words and practice adding endings, prefixes, etc. (ex.: "hope" -- since the word ends with a vowel, and some endings begin with a vowel, they "butt heads", so you 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)

- work with 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 with spelling words (1-2x a week; 5-10 min./day)

(idea from various sources)

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

 

 

BEST of luck in your spelling journey! Warmly Lori D.

[Bassoonaroo]

My sixth grader is currently using (and liking) Apples. It fits her perfectly. She's a perfectionist (not good) who got so frustrated with any type of spelling program with tests. Apples gives a new rule and you practice it for several days with examples and then move to a new rule. It's not babyish, but is really a great reinforcement for middle schoolers who need some extra spelling work.

[GreenKitty]

Megawords as already mentioned, computer spelling games, scholastic dictionary of words.