Are you looking for a solid spelling curriculum for your child?
Do you find that with your young writers, too?
Spelling and Writing
My daughter, as a young learner, was all about writing, but had trouble spelling.
She loved to make little books, write in her Hello Kitty journal, and do very simple reports, usually on penguins or airplanes.
But when it came to spelling, she struggled. She did not have a special need in thaeir area, was not dyslexic, but just had trouble learning to spell.
She tended to spell phonically, ie, how she thought the word sounded. And many kids do that, in the primary, and even the later elementary grades.
I didn't want to squash her creativity by correcting each misspelled work in her written work. But I did want to help her learn to spell.
So this is what we did for spelling, focusing on the success. We started with Explode the Code.
But when it came to spelling, she struggled. She did not have a special need in thaeir area, was not dyslexic, but just had trouble learning to spell.
She tended to spell phonically, ie, how she thought the word sounded. And many kids do that, in the primary, and even the later elementary grades.
I didn't want to squash her creativity by correcting each misspelled work in her written work. But I did want to help her learn to spell.
So this is what we did for spelling, focusing on the success. We started with Explode the Code.
1. Building Spelling Skills Curriculum
Then, in second grade, we added a phonics based spelling program, by Evan-Moor, one of my favorite educational publishing companies. Have you heard of them?
We started with Building Spelling Skills – Grade 2
We started with Building Spelling Skills – Grade 2
The spelling words in this book are based on the 200 most commonly used words in the English language and the words frequently misspelled by second graders.
It was the ideal homeschool spelling curriculum for my child. To read the rest of my review just click here: Building Spelling Skills – Grade 2.
How We Used It in Our Homeschool
As my daughter worked in Explode the Code and her Building Spelling Skills program, she gradually developed her spelling skills.
Each week, she looked forward to her spelling tests, and did quite well on them. But when she did her writing, either in her journal, or in her other homeschool work, etc, her spelling skills did not show up that year, or even the next. And that is very normal for our young learners.
Each week, she looked forward to her spelling tests, and did quite well on them. But when she did her writing, either in her journal, or in her other homeschool work, etc, her spelling skills did not show up that year, or even the next. And that is very normal for our young learners.
Reinforcing Success in Spelling
AND we emphasized success. Each week, my daughter did well on her spelling tests. She earned stickers for that. And each week, she did very well in her writing assignments. But her spelling continued to be very poor in her writing work.
We kept her writing work separate from her spelling lessons.
We kept her writing work separate from her spelling lessons.
2. Homeschool Elementary Writing Curriculum
To encourage writing, we used a simple curriculum by Spectrum called Spectrum Writing.
It has a lot of simple writing projects in it choose from, and my daughter enjoyed working in it.
She had learned to write good sentences, paragraphs, and later, stories and essays. She developed good writing skills, learning how to make good sentences, paragraphs, too.
Spelling Skills in Her Writing Work
But the skills that she learned in her spelling lessons did NOT show up in her written work for years.
And that is normal for lots of young learners. By doing her spelling program, and her spelling tests, she learned good spelling skills, that much later, showed up in her own written work.
And that is ok.
3. Grading the Written Work
I graded her on her writing skills, not her spelling, for all her writing projects. She earned stickers for her writing.
So I looked at how she was putting together sentences, and paragraphs. Those things were corrected if need be.
But did I correct each of her misspelled words in her writing work each week?
No, I did not. I corrected them on her spelling tests, but I did not correct the misspelled word on her reports.
No, I did not. I corrected them on her spelling tests, but I did not correct the misspelled word on her reports.
I was patient, rewarding her successes, and when it all came together, later, her confidence in writing was intact!
So be encouraged. It takes a LOT of practice, and sometimes, years, to be able to apply newly learned spelling skills to one's actual writing. She gradually generalized her spelling skills to her written work.
4. College News
Today, my daughter got back her first essay for her college English class. (She got an A, sharing for encouragement). And it showed her good spelling skills, too!
She was also asked to write a short piece in her business school's newsletter, based on her college admissions essay.
And, her admissions essay got her into college.
And, her admissions essay got her into college.
May you all enjoy your younger learners, as they strive and work in their studies. They need to see that you are proud of them, in as many ways as you and your husband can show it.
What are your favorite ways to teach spelling? Link up and share your story! And I love hearing from you, too!
Note - If your child does have a dyslexia issue, there are specific spelling and reading programs for that. Please check out the Barton programs for more information on that.
Note - If your child does have a dyslexia issue, there are specific spelling and reading programs for that. Please check out the Barton programs for more information on that.
Thanks for stopping by,
Betsy
Betsy homeschooled her now college grad from preschool through high school. She blogs at BJ's Homeschool, about high school, college and the early years, too. She offers homeschool help at BJ's Consulting, and loves meeting with homeschool families.
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