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Spelling for 7 y/o
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I realize that teaching spelling formally is not really CM, but I feel like DD needs to learn to spell since she is asking me all the time how to spell something. I’m looking at “Queens Spelling Through Copywork” and “All About Spelling”. Which do you like and why?
We just finished All About Spelling 1 and will be continuing the program. This approach has really benefited my daughters spelling and reading. It is really well laid out and easy to use. It is an open and go lesson approach. They also have a really good return policy if it doesn’t work!
We also really like AAS. I use it with my 6 and 7 yo boys. My 7 yo needed more phonics practice and that’s why I decided on AAS and to go ahead do spelling. We just finished 1 also and it’s helped so much with his reading, writing, and spelling. I love that they learn rules and not spelling lists. With each lesson, they learn a rule and with that they can spell any word with that rule, if that makes sense. And the rules build on each other.
I don’t know anything about the other one. I do know that my 6yo would do fine learning spelling through CM methods like dictation or copywork, but my 7yo would not have done well with that. So, I guess it also depends on your child. Both of my boys love AAS.
Oh, and I like that AAS is scripted. I have found with certain subjects like grammar and spelling, I prefer it all laid out for me. Other than the initial set up, there is no teacher prep. You just pick up your book and materials and teach.
I am using AAS with my 6yo and we really like it. The first book has been easy for her, but I think it really has increased her confidence in trying to spell and write things on her own. I also like that it is reinforcing phonics since she sort of learned to read by a hodge-podge of sight words and phonics.
As others said, there is little-no prep work once you get everything organized at first. It is also ‘mastery based’ as opposed to “complete this lesson” based, so you can spend as much or as little time in a day on it as you want. We usually only work with it for about 10 minutes each day, and each ‘step’ has been taking us perhaps 3-6 sessions depending on how quickly she picks up on the concept. We are about 3/4 of the way through with Level 1, which we started in November, with significant time off over the holidays.
I haven’t used the other, so I’m not sure how they compare.
HTH,
Jen
I realize that teaching spelling formally is not really CM, but I feel like DD needs to learn to spell since she is asking me all the time how to spell something.
Actually, Charlotte did formally teach spelling using a technique called prepared dictation. There’s a video on our Spelling Wisdom page that demonstrates how it works.
By the way, CM didn’t start teaching spelling until about third grade. The idea is to have reading skills good and solid first. Otherwise, spelling lessons will be a painful chore.
We have actually been using All About Spelling as a reading program. The phonics and sight reading taught has been very helpful for my dd. I have to admit that I have not been as concerned about her spelling while using it, although she has been growing leaps and bounds in that department too. I would not classify it as CM, but it is very CM friendly and has been a very enjoyable approach. Once we feel that she is solid in her reading we will probably be adding dictation. AAS has dictations that increase in difficulty throughout the levels, but they are not passages from literature.
Thanks! DD is a pretty good reader. I would not consider her fluent, but she is a strong 2nd grade reader, going into third grade level. She struggles mostly with phonics when she sees unfamiliar words. I think I’ll try AAS. I have a friend who received it for free and is willing to pass it on to me. I took the examples that they should be able to spell by the end of level 1, and while she did pretty well, she had about 4 words (out of 6 short phrases) that she spelled phonetically, but were a bit off (‘tints’ instead of ‘tents’). I think this will be a good place to start. Thanks!
I would not classify it as CM, but it is very CM friendly and has been a very enjoyable approach.
For a little more on that thought, some of you might like to check out our video on Basic and Intensive Phonics.
I would also like to add that my almost 7yo and my 8yo can both spell extremely well despite never having formal spelling instruction. Both read extremely well too. I’d take it to the bank that sound, solid reading skills and comprehension naturally lead the child into recognizing and spelling words from memory. Our 8yo is even picking up on harder to spell words, such as the ones with ‘ph’ and silent ‘ght’. Our 6yo surprised us by declaring just the other day, “Listen to me spell ‘something’.” She then proceeded to spell the word ‘something’ correctly. That may not be a big deal to anyone, but for 6 we think it’s pretty good, considering we’ve never taught her the word.
We will begin Spelling Wisdom with our 8yo next year. He will be 8 1/2, and we feel he’s ready for prepared dictation. No spelling lists for us!
Blessings,
Lindsey
Just wanted to chime in to say that my now-9yo dd used to ask me ALL THE TIME how to spell things. Drove me nuts… 😛 But as she’s gotten older and has done more copywork and more reading on her own, she spells pretty well now – not great, but much, much better, and she doesn’t come to me nearly as often. My now-7.5yo dd asks me sometimes, but she’s not quite to that stage yet of wanting everything right. Almost… I am sure she will progress in the same fashion as her sister. It seems to be quite natural, especially since she’s just starting to read well and hasn’t had enough experience with copywork (real words vs just letters).
Oh, and I have had similar experiences as Lindsey, except my kids just read later than hers evidently. 😛
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