Spelling and penmanship questions/problems

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  • May 16, 2013 at 7:03 pm
    nerakr
    Participant

    I realize CM didn’t recommend spelling before 4th grade, so except for a few failed attempts and inconsistencies, I haven’t pushed it with my son. Well, 4th grade is looming, and I’m in a quandary. I’ve posted about this before, but I’m still unsure what to do. I don’t know if he’s ready for dictation (Spelling Wisdom). It’s also all I can do to get him to do one line of copywork, so programs that use a lot of writing are out of the question. I’ve looked at Spelling Power and Sequential Spelling, but for whatever reason don’t feel they will be a good fit for us. He hated AAS, but maybe it was because it was Level 1 and he knew all the words.

    We have an account with Spelling City, but I haven’t been consistent with it. And the fourth grade lists seem to focus more on homophones or stuff he’s not ready for. But he needs something formal. I can’t rely on pulling words from his writing, since he won’t do any on his own. I feel as if I’ve looked at everything, but can’t find a good fit.

    Which leads to my next problem-his handwriting. It’s awful. I don’t know if he has dysgraphia, since I don’t know all the symptoms of it. But he doesn’t want to use proper form with the circular letters. He makes lowercase g’s sit on the line instead of going below. He still has trouble with k’s and y’s. He mixes upper and lower case within words. He has two l’s in his name, which he ALWAYS makes uppercase. I don’t get that. Aren’t lowercase l’s easier to make? He says he wants to learn cursive, so we’ll see if it sticks-and if it helps.

    Any suggestions? Either for a spelling program for a pencil-phobic boy or for ways to improve his writing?

    BTW, he has just become interested in doodling and can doodle for hours, making up elaborate stories as he goes. But he would be unable to put those thoughts on paper if asked. I want to help him in this area, too, since some of his 4h work involves putting thoughts on paper.

    TIA,

    Karen

    May 16, 2013 at 7:23 pm
    suzukimom
    Participant

    I’d look to see if he has Mixed-Dominance.  (Ie, maybe his Right hand is dominant, and his Left Eye is dominant.)  That would explain the dysgraphia  (at this age, with the symptoms you listed, I’d say he has dysgraphia…)  

    I have a lot of pins on my pintrist board here  http://pinterest.com/scouterguider/dyslexia-dysgraphia-dysnomia/

    Specifically, I’d check out the test here…. http://www.hslda.org/strugglinglearner/sn_writing.asp

    And then look at this exercise….

    http://icareforldkids.hpage.com/for_dysgraphia_71784846.html

     

    As for Spelling – my son has dyslexia so has spelling problems – but AAS is the only thing that has helped him so far, so don’t know what to suggest.   Someone mentioned the “Seeing Stars” program for helping to learn how to visualize – to do that before doing prepared dictation – but I can’t afford the program…

    May 16, 2013 at 9:19 pm
    nerakr
    Participant

    I’ve heard of the Writing Eight exercise that was recommended on one of suzukimom’s links. Does anyone know if there is a download for it somewhere? I can’t figure out if you’re supposed to do all 26 letters on one page or one per page? Are you supposed to do all letters every day? I don’t see much info on any of the sites listed or on Dianne Craft’s site, since she’s trying to sell her book.

    Even on hsclassifieds, Craft’s book is $40. I want to know if it’s worth it before I buy it.

    May 16, 2013 at 9:51 pm
    suzukimom
    Participant

    Here is one mom doing the exercises.  I don’t think it is perfect, but gives you the ides…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=019M_RnITzM   (she is doing n-z – there is another video for a-m))

     

    So you do 3 “loops” [figure 8’s], then do “a”.  Do 3 “loops”, then do “b”.   The instructions I had say to do all the letters every day, once they know the letter placement… (which was day 1 for us.)   Use the same paper for a week.

    You have the handout with the letter placement?

    May 17, 2013 at 11:44 am
    TailorMade
    Participant

    Have you tried separating the two skills?  In other words, since handwriting is such a struggle, it may be that oral spelling would help him more at this point while working on handwriting at a completely different time during the day. Putting two tough subjects together may be making it nearly impossible for progress in either area. ?  Just thinking out loud here. I’ve had these issues with two of our five children (both are boys.) I did find helpful suggestions through Andrew Pudewa’s explanations of the Phonetic Zoo and other spelling essays that he’s written. I did not spend the $$$ on the program, just gleaned the “method” and found results that, while not immediate, were long lasting and encouraged them both to learn to spell. 

    There are some cursive first threads on this forum that strongly encourage teaching cursive early. You might find handwriting help there. I’d suggest keyboarding myself. 🙂  Its a way to get words on paper that’s “cool” for those that struggle with handwriting. AVKO (Sequential Spelling folks)  has a keyboarding program designed with dyslexics in mind. That may be a way to develop spelling and reading skills while being equipped to get those stories onto paper faster. Combined with the easier flow of cursive, you may help him cover all sorts of ground in many areas. 

    Hth. 

    Becca<><

    May 17, 2013 at 12:37 pm
    nerakr
    Participant

    Becca,

    When we  used AAS, he wanted to do it orally. He didn’t even want to use the letter tiles, although he appears to be tactile/kinesthetic. He has said he wants to learn cursive and keyboarding; I was just wondering if I needed to try the Writing Eight exercises first, or keep that method in mind if he has trouble with cursive. I don’t have a problem with teaching him keyboarding; I know it will help. But if he documents any of his 4h work, it has to be handwritten until he’s in high school.

    I bookmarked the “articles” section of IEW. From the quick glance I took, I didn’t see any articles on spelling. Do you have any titles offhand? I may use the placement tests for the Phonetic Zoo with him, anyway. But if I don’t buy a program, where do I find the words to use? One of those “commonly used words” or “commonly misspelled words” lists?

    Karen

    BTW, I have a sister named Rebecca. We were never allowed to shorten her name to Becca or Becky, though.

    May 17, 2013 at 3:49 pm
    suzukimom
    Participant

     I was just wondering if I needed to try the Writing Eight exercises first,

     

    Did you do the home test I linked to see if he has mixed dominance?  If he has mixed dominance, you definitely need to do the Writing Eight exercises.

    May 17, 2013 at 5:33 pm
    nerakr
    Participant

    @Becca,

    I think I found the articles you were referring to. Were they on the Getting Started page?

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