My 6 yr old DS writes all the time (Fall birthday). Not stories, but he likes to play “Treasure Hunt” w/ his 8 yr old sister, they both draw pictures (clues) and write some text for each one. He fills in speech bubbles for drawings he’s done, he writes notes and puts them around the house, he’s just writing all the time. He amazes me w/ how well he spells, and how unresistant he is to writing, my DD did not naturally write like he does at that age. She is just now doing that and she’s turning 9 this month.
I tend to be a little from the “natural camp” when it comes to homeschooling, I don’t want to force my DS into spelling just because the children in public school are doing it, and I want him to love learning. Also CM didn’t advocate dictation until 3rd grade, right?
I am using Spelling Wisdom w/ my DD, and we really like it, but I’m not ready to use it w/ my DS.
So, what do I do in the meantime?
Do I continue to guide my DS w/ his spelling as I’m doing? He naturally spells amazingly well. And when he does get a word incorrect, I teach him the correct way and he gets it. Its just matter of factly, “Oh, here, let me show you” and its painless, no hurt feelings, he corrects it, and goes off and plays some more.
Sounds like you’re already doing “in the meantime” wonderfully, Ginnie.
During these years before age 9 or 10, the child is building up his mental storehouse of correct spellings as he looks at words when reading and all around him. That mental storehouse is important so that when he gets to dictation, he will have only a few words in the exercise that he doesn’t already know how to spell.
thanks so much Sonya. Things have been soooooooo different w/ my DD, bright girl, gifted reader, etc, who just abhorred writing, so its refreshing (and a bit surprising) that my SON would be the one naturally writing and spelling.
Just needed that pat of confidence Sonya. Thank you!
Ginnie
Viewing 3 posts - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
The topic ‘6 yr old DS loves to write/spell. Now what?’ is closed to new replies.