Karen in CO Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 We just started Spelling Power this week. We have been all around with various styles of spelling this year, and I think this is the one for us (but I have thought that before). This week we did our placement tests and our first days of daily tests which went very well. I'm trying to carefully follow the steps and do it "right" before I start tweaking it. The book suggests tracing the missed words in sand. Does anybody actually do this? 'Cause I tried it and completely lost her focus. She'd rather play with the sand, and her sister wanted a tray of sand too so my table ended up covered in sand, shells, and plastic sea creatures. My husband came downstairs when I was handing out the sand, before it became just playtime, and laughed hysterically when I told him that it was supposed to help with spelling. Is there a more practical multi-sensory practice that you can recommend? Maybe something that would be less likely bring out the playful child in my studious speller? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 We just started Spelling Power this week. We have been all around with various styles of spelling this year, and I think this is the one for us (but I have thought that before). This week we did our placement tests and our first days of daily tests which went very well. I'm trying to carefully follow the steps and do it "right" before I start tweaking it. The book suggests tracing the missed words in sand. Does anybody actually do this? 'Cause I tried it and completely lost her focus. She'd rather play with the sand, and her sister wanted a tray of sand too so my table ended up covered in sand, shells, and plastic sea creatures. My husband came downstairs when I was handing out the sand, before it became just playtime, and laughed hysterically when I told him that it was supposed to help with spelling. Is there a more practical multi-sensory practice that you can recommend? Maybe something that would be less likely bring out the playful child in my studious speller? I've always just had mine trace them on the table with their finger. The thought of bringing sand inside on purpose makes me twitch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renai Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 The thought of bringing sand inside on purpose makes me twitch. :lol: This is so funny! I have my daughter trace on the table too. There's plenty of texture there! Or, just for change of pace, I have her trace on the wall, or anything on hand with texture. Yesterday, she asked if she asked if she could trace on the cat :001_huh:. That was met with an emphatic NO :D. If you decide to continue with sand, contain it in a tray so it doesn't get all over your table. That won't help with the playing aspect, however ;). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted April 10, 2009 Author Share Posted April 10, 2009 I've always just had mine trace them on the table with their finger. The thought of bringing sand inside on purpose makes me twitch. I have colorful craft sand - think pink, purple, and blue sand. Deep breathing helps. My husbands hysterical laughter isn't so helpful. It really seemed like a good idea at the time. I feel better about ditching the sand and just tracing on the table. The dog may be agreeable since she usually hangs out under the table during school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sumiller Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 :lol: This is so funny! I have my daughter trace on the table too. There's plenty of texture there! Or, just for change of pace, I have her trace on the wall, or anything on hand with texture. Yesterday, she asked if she asked if she could trace on the cat :001_huh:. That was met with an emphatic NO :D. If you decide to continue with sand, contain it in a tray so it doesn't get all over your table. That won't help with the playing aspect, however ;). I also had my children trace in the air as big as they could which would produce lots of giggles but it worked. I believe the idea is to get more of the brain involved and the bigger the motions the more brain activity. :) HTHs, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara in WA Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 I have my dd use the back of a heavy placemat that has a cork texture or the carpet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy loves Bud Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 I have them write in the air really big - moving their whole arm and not just the wrist. I also have them spell it on the telephone - they really like that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melinda Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 What if you put shaving cream or whipped cream in a ziploc bag or right on the table instead? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 My daughter just traces it on whatever surface is at hand (often the bedspread since we do a lot of schooling on my bed). For additional ideas on using SP, check out http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/SPmenu.htm We also made the modification that the pretest is done orally (often while bouncing on a big ball), then any missed have to be written. My biggest challenge is her request that I make a funny story with my sentences (gets very interesting to try to tie all the words together:D). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 The thought of bringing sand inside on purpose makes me twitch. :iagree::iagree::iagree: I think some of the Spelling Power suggestions are a bit much. We're just getting started with it, too, and it seems that there are almost too many options to consider, and I never even considered using the sand. Too messy, and too distracting -- who wants to spell when there's a mess to be made on the kitchen table? I know these creative suggestions work very well for many families, but I guess I'm more traditional than I thought I was... Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 What if you put shaving cream or whipped cream in a ziploc bag or right on the table instead? Well, at my house, unless that bag was hermetically sealed, we'd end up with a table full of shaving cream... but maybe that's just at my house. :glare: Heck, even I would be tempted to play with the shaving cream. :tongue_smilie: And let's just face facts -- I'd eat the whipped cream before it ever made it into the bag... So I guess we'll be tracing the letters in the air. Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frontier Mom Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 On a big piece of sandpaper works well and it isn't so messy. I also got a rubbermaid bin and put cornmeal in it. It isn't as messy as flour and they "wrote" in it. Then, I just put the top back on it and used it the next time. I also used it for fraction drawing, measuring with measuring cups, etc. Just one rubbermaid thing of cornmeal has taught us sooo much through the years. BTW, we have used shaving cream for special treats. It really gets the table clean!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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