HFClassicalAcademy Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 My dd just turned 5, but has completed the kindergarten level of SSRW and has now started level 1. I'm wondering if I should go ahead and start her on SWO as well or wait until she is more fluent with reading? Anyways, I'd like to know when a good time to start spelling with her would be. SSRW incorporates spelling, but I really don't like that part of the program so I'll be using something different anyways. Any suggestions are appreciated!! Liz in NC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tree House Academy Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 My 5 year old is reading pretty well (end of 1st grade level maybe?) and Spelling Workout A was a bit too simple for him (at least chapters 7-9 were). That is why I listed it for sale. I like the program, but he needs a bit more of a challenge. In Chapter 9 this week, his words were duck, nest, dog, leg (and two others I can't recall at the moment). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa in the UP of MI Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 I think it depends on the kid. If she's interested in spelling I'd say go for it. My 4.5yo dd spells better than she reads (she is not a visual learner) and we are working on a spelling program. She's about half-way through AAS level 1 and it's all been review so far. We are just about to start some new material. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanna Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 ...to hold off on language arts studies such as spelling and such till the children are fluent readers. You'll have many years (think grades 1 - 6 and beyond if you like) to practice spelling. Focus on reading. Read to her, have her read to you, get books on tape from the library. HTH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 I zipped through SWO A with Becca just after she turned 5. It was really too simple for her, which is why we switched to AAS. Maybe I just didn't do the program thoroughly enough, but it just seemed like busywork. I wouldn't do spelling unless/until the child is reading comfortably - smoothly, not haltingly. Does that make sense? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marie in Oh Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 who is now in 2nd grade is a strong speller and SW would have been way too easy for her. She read at the 3rd grade level at the end of K at 5 1/2. My older kids use Spelling Power, so I let her take the placement test and she tested into Level C. She now is going into level E. Her older siblings are only finishing Level F in 4th and 5th grade and she is finishing 2nd. Some kids are strong readers and spellers, some can spell but struggle reading, some read but struggle to spell. I would say if she is strong in spelling, go for it. There is no reason why you can't keep working on reading and spelling. I see no reason to wait til she's officially a 1st grader. My current K'er is following suit reading and spelling very strongly (my phonics program incorpaorates spelling), so I will do the same with her (ie. when we are finished with Saxon Phonics 1 I will let her take the Spelling Power placement test). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FO4UR Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 ...to hold off on language arts studies such as spelling and such till the children are fluent readers. You'll have many years (think grades 1 - 6 and beyond if you like) to practice spelling. Focus on reading. Read to her, have her read to you, get books on tape from the library. HTH! I think that depends upon the learning style of the child. If I waited for ds to read fluently before teaching spelling, he'd likely be 14 before he finished "1st grade":001_huh: He is a logical kid (and maybe has a slight issue with dyslexia - I've not tested him, but I have my suspicions). The more practice he has in spelling, the better he reads. My dd, however, knows very few spelling patterns but picks up the reading like it's 2nd nature. So your advice would work well with her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HFClassicalAcademy Posted April 2, 2009 Author Share Posted April 2, 2009 She has been "spelling" since she was 3. Of course, this was all done phonetically...which is the reason I started teaching her to read at 4. She was still not blending correctly when she was 3, so I waited a bit. She is still a writer, so I'm want something to help her with her spelling. Here is a sample of what she wrote to me last fall when I was feeling a bit ill (I kept the note because it is so beautifully illustrated! She is a wonderful artist!). "Momy I hop u wil fel betr soon It is frum Isabella I want u to be hape and hav fun" She has been writing these kinds of notes all the time since she was 3. She can read the words spelled correctly, but hasn't made the correlation on spelling yet it seems. Liz in NC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SusanNN Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 I say give it a try and if it seems frustrating for her, put it away till later. My boys were not early writers - even though they read well, the writing was VERY frustrating to them. I learned that it was OK that everything didn't develop in perfect harmony with every other skill --- and to not hold them back from what they WERE ready to do. So I say - if she wants to try, let her try! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa in the UP of MI Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 She has been "spelling" since she was 3. Of course, this was all done phonetically...which is the reason I started teaching her to read at 4. She was still not blending correctly when she was 3, so I waited a bit. She is still a writer, so I'm want something to help her with her spelling. Here is a sample of what she wrote to me last fall when I was feeling a bit ill (I kept the note because it is so beautifully illustrated! She is a wonderful artist!). "Momy I hop u wil fel betr soon It is frum Isabella I want u to be hape and hav fun" She has been writing these kinds of notes all the time since she was 3. She can read the words spelled correctly, but hasn't made the correlation on spelling yet it seems. Liz in NC Sounds like my dd. She understood spelling before she could read. I'd suggest that you try a spelling program, but back off if she is not interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lydiasmommy Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 My DD turned 6 in January and we're about to start SW A. It will be very easy for her - she's been reading and writing well for a couple of years now - but I don't have a problem with that. She'll really enjoy how easy it is (we're finishing ETC 8, so it will seem easy in comparison) and I'll be able to insure there aren't any holes in her spelling. I imagine she'll move through it pretty quickly and we'll continue on through the series. If your DD is interested, give it a shot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgiana Daniels Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 My dd17 used SW when she was in elementary and has trouble with spelling to this day. I couldn't pinpoint SW as the problem, per se, but I'm going to look for something different for my little ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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