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Does dictation work for spelling?
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I am assuming that it must since so many home school moms use it for spelling!
I have been using Rod and Staff for spelling for my 4th and 3rd graders for one year now. I really like the idea of doing dictation for spelling instead. I can see how it would help my children with writing as well. My children are in 4th, 3rd, 1st, and age 4. So I like the idea, but I am wanting reassurance before I decide to discontinue the use of a good spelling program. I also think that they would enjoy the dictation more. Spelling work book pages feel like busy work to them.
Does it really work? It seems so simple! It is also different than the traditional memorization of lists and lists of words. I would love to hear about mom’s experiences with it.
Thank you!
I find it works better than lists of words. Those are pretty much worthless IMHO. If they need to know how to spell a word for a sentence, then they remember it better. Better than dictation for remembering is their own writings. I find if they need to spell it for their own writing they remember that even more.
Yes, it works; and yes, it is simple. This is our second year to do dictation. We are using SCM’s Spelling Wisdom and are still in Book 1. My son doesn’t like doing it, but he does it and it works. He rarely misspells words and almost always gets the punctuation correct. I personally think lists of words are pointless and very separate from real life writing. Dictation is real life writing, spelling, and punctuation. It is so different from lists, so you have to give yourself and your children an adjustment period. You’ll likely think you’re not doing enough at first, but stick with it and trust the process. It works!
It’s worked very well for my oldest who is a natural speller. My DS (who isn’t a natural speller) is just starting with Spelling Wisdom. I’m curious to see how it works with him…so far it’s going well.
We previously used R&S and I found it to be so much work…she would spend at least 30 minutes on each assignment. With Spelling Wisdom, she spends less than 30 minutes for the entire week!
Remember that dictation is used in addition to copywork and reading plenty of living books, so that students are exposed to correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation. It’s the whole approach that works. I don’t think dictation would work, or at least not as well, without the other steps. First they copy excellent writing, then write it from dictation, and then eventually to use it themselves.
We have just started Spelling Wisdom, but my daughter is already making the transfer of what she has learned into her other writing. At church the children discussed being thankful. DD, who has recently started doing a lot of writing in her spare time, came home and wrote a short ‘essay’ about gratitude. In it she included: “Be content with your lot; one cannot be first in everything.” It was spelled and punctuated correctly. My mom was here, and both she and my DH raised their eyebrows and looked at me puzzled, wondering how my 8yo had come up with such a statement. DD and I just giggled, knowing where it had come from.
I’m fairly certain that spelling lists don’t transfer that easily or quickly!
Joanne
I’m curious how old your kids are? My oldest (boy) is 8 and I’m wondering when to start? By nature he “resists” the more schoolish (I realize that is not a word) subjects like math, handwriting, etc. He can do it, it is just not his favorite thing to do…you know, he would rather climb trees, build legos, play sports, draw…you get the picture.
Anyhow…for those of you that it is working well when do you recommend starting?
8 is young. My 8yo is a bit ahead. She learned to read and write early and has been doing copywork for almost 3 years, and writes for fun all the time. (if only I could say as much about math. Sigh.) Anyway, so I started spelling wisdom early. I think the usual recommendation is at least 9. I can see my son not being ready until quite a bit later than that. He reads well, but anything involving a pencil is torture.
I’d wait a while for your son, who sounds similar to mine. At 8 copywork is what’s important.
My 8 year old boy rather play too! I liked your post sharing that daily call for constant play; my ds feels exactly the same!
The spelling book for his age has been tiresome.
I like the response of starting Spelling Wisdom / dictation at age 9; especially for boys.
My original question was with the idea of stopping R&S spelling for dictation with my recently turned 10 & 8 1/2 year olds. It is the direction I am going to go. If it is too much for the 8 year old though I will wait.
They both started copy work around age 6.
I have all boys. They would rather be climbing trees and that’s exactly what they should be doing. I started my 10yo boy in Spelling Wisdom this year and we are going slowly. My youngest son who is 9, won’t start for another year or two. He was adopted from China at age 6. My oldest is 23, a voracious reader/engineering major, phenomenal writer, but had a very slow start in that area. Read good books. It all comes out great in the end.
My oldest did great with Spelling Wisdom. Never did learn any rules.
He also got a late start on seat work and is doing great at the private high school he attends.
I started using Spelling Wisdom last year with my then 14 year old twin boy and girl and 8 year old girl. All did well, each with various strengths in spelling. We only do two lessons per week, which was just right for us. Book 1 starts off very gently, which I think makes it easier for boys (I have one of them, too! LOL) We have continued it this year and plan to continue to use the resource all the way through book 5.
I’m wondering when to start?
Your child needs to have good reading skills first. If reading isn’t solid then spelling will be a painful chore. Don’t be afraid to wait a bit, if needed.
As others have said, copywork is a foundation for spelling through dictation. Children naturally go through a few phases with copywork. It starts with look at a letter, write a letter, look at a letter, write a letter. Then it progresses to look at a word, write a word. It eventually moves to copying a whole phrase at a time. You’ll want to wait until after that third stage with phrases to start spelling.
This clarified so much for me, Doug. I think we’ve tried dictation too early with some of our children, hence their struggles with it. Our youngest is working at levels 1 and 2 based on your description. I’m not planning on dictation for a while with her…she’s only 7. But, this gives me more to watch for in the mean time…will make it easier to spot readiness. Thanks!
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