We started back to school in the middle of August. And, though I knew we had a SS (struggling speller) on our hands, I didn't think it was too bad. (denial!) This year especially, we were making some pretty large leaps in the areas of creative writing and journaling, though it was challenging, I didn't realize how rough it would be... (as in crying and wailing...and that was just me!! ;)
Finally, I received a note home from the co-op's English teacher. Your child needs HELP in the spelling department...get off your 'duff!! :) Ok, not a word for word quote. Lol...but, that's how it felt and it motivated me to take serious action. As I began digging, I found so many wonderful resources, I knew I just had to share them with you!
BLENDS: Here are a few things we are doing in our classroom to help my "whole word" thinker begin to break down the words and attempt to think more phonetically:
We go over one or two of these blends each day. Sometimes we do a contest between the sounds and see which sound "wins" (which one has the most words we can think of thoughout the day). Btw, I would not suggest having a contest between the kids. If a blend loses, they don't have an identity crisis! Not so with the kids! :)
LONG VOWEL SOUNDS: The following idea was a suggestion of the co-op's teacher, (to whom I am extremely greatful!). Make up a chart of the long vowel sounds and their common spellings. We did this very simply on paint cards and taped them to the wall. :) classy, I know.
Next up, we are going to make a chart of common endings and their spelling. I am thinking of doing a Notebooking project with all this info, as well as the "principles" or rules of spelling.
My next post will be outlining great games and apps of spelling games that will help your SS!! I hope this will bring more joy and less frustration to your child's schooling. Education is so wonderful and exciting...I feel like it is my job to give my kiddos the right "tools" to use on their path of discovery.
Be encouraged! Kristen
Just a side note: There are varying methods of teaching children how to read (whole word reading or phonetic). Also, there are some children's brains that tend to gravitate more towards whole word reading. Whole word reading will result in poorer spelling skills because they tend to look at word patterns, shapes and context of words, rather than "sounding out" the phonetic patterns, blends, etc. Just so you know, spelling skills have no correlation to intelligence. What if our society said, only those good in math are intelligent. It would leave out great groups of people for whom math is their weakest subject. That being said, there are things you can do to teach your child phonetic spelling (& reading). The point of this post is not to enter into the debate, but just bring up if your child is a "good reader/poor speller" they may be functioning in the whole word arena. You may need to do a phonetic intervention. (ha!!)
Finally, I received a note home from the co-op's English teacher. Your child needs HELP in the spelling department...get off your 'duff!! :) Ok, not a word for word quote. Lol...but, that's how it felt and it motivated me to take serious action. As I began digging, I found so many wonderful resources, I knew I just had to share them with you!
BLENDS: Here are a few things we are doing in our classroom to help my "whole word" thinker begin to break down the words and attempt to think more phonetically:
We go over one or two of these blends each day. Sometimes we do a contest between the sounds and see which sound "wins" (which one has the most words we can think of thoughout the day). Btw, I would not suggest having a contest between the kids. If a blend loses, they don't have an identity crisis! Not so with the kids! :)
LONG VOWEL SOUNDS: The following idea was a suggestion of the co-op's teacher, (to whom I am extremely greatful!). Make up a chart of the long vowel sounds and their common spellings. We did this very simply on paint cards and taped them to the wall. :) classy, I know.
My next post will be outlining great games and apps of spelling games that will help your SS!! I hope this will bring more joy and less frustration to your child's schooling. Education is so wonderful and exciting...I feel like it is my job to give my kiddos the right "tools" to use on their path of discovery.
Be encouraged! Kristen
Just a side note: There are varying methods of teaching children how to read (whole word reading or phonetic). Also, there are some children's brains that tend to gravitate more towards whole word reading. Whole word reading will result in poorer spelling skills because they tend to look at word patterns, shapes and context of words, rather than "sounding out" the phonetic patterns, blends, etc. Just so you know, spelling skills have no correlation to intelligence. What if our society said, only those good in math are intelligent. It would leave out great groups of people for whom math is their weakest subject. That being said, there are things you can do to teach your child phonetic spelling (& reading). The point of this post is not to enter into the debate, but just bring up if your child is a "good reader/poor speller" they may be functioning in the whole word arena. You may need to do a phonetic intervention. (ha!!)
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