Happe Nu Yer!!!

Does your child/student have trouble spelling?  Do you think he is just lazy?  Could the educational system be to blame because of its wacky acceptance of "invented" spelling?  Would another workbook from Wal-Mart on spelling be the answer?  What about playing endless games of Scrabble? Believe it or not, more than a few amazing Americans were notoriously poor spellers: Thomas Jefferson, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Woodrow Wilson and John Irving. Some people that are even considered geniuses are not strong spellers. The problem is our society judges too frequently on IQ being equated with great spelling.  Not always true.


What to do?  Rather than have your poor child pour hours over word lists, give him a few strategies to help him spell ALL words:

1. Say the word slowly (aloud if possible). Slowing down the word will sometimes give support in hearing more sounds.  Many children will not want to do this because it makes them attend to the sounds and becomes "work".
2. Clap the syllables.  Amazing how many children cannot really clap syllables.  Then have him write EACH syllable.
3. Each syllable needs some kind of vowel(s).  Amazing how many children do not know this.
4. Think of another word he CAN spell that sounds the same and use that word as support
5. Have him try the word he is unsure of 2 or 3 different ways.  Chances are he will get much closer to correct spelling than he thought he could.

While these strategies will not magically cure your poor speller, they will surely help support him.  Running to a dictionary BEFORE trying self-help strategies is a time-waster and often a poor speller will REALLY get lost in the sea of letters when trying this. 
Be encouraged that your speller can improve and will probably continue to surprise you with his intellect; however, about 20% may NEVER be a speller that just "sees" the word spelled correctly and quickly in his brain.  Asking him if the word "looks" right is like asking a tone-deaf person if the note sounded right when he sang it.  American Idol tryouts are proof of that!  :)  So...

Happe Nu Yer!!!

CHRISTMAS NIGHTMARE

Being a reading person, I had a dental hygienist named Ashlyn share an idea for a good Christmas book with me today.  The name of the book is Elf on the Shelf. The premise of the book is you sit a stuffed elf on your shelf and read the book to your little one.  The elf has magical powers and will watch and listen to your little one all day.  Your little one can tell the elf anything he wants Santa to know and also the elf will be always be watching the little one's behavior.  Here is the scenario that played out:

Ashlyn:  Hey, an elf is going to be coming to visit us soon!

Caden:  Where is he?  (looking around)  How big is he? (eyes big as saucers)

Ashlyn:  Oh, he'll come out soon and you'll see.  He'll be watching your behavior!  You can also talk to him and tell him anything you want Santa to know because each night he goes back to tell Santa.  Later, before morning, he'll come back and hide.  You will get to hunt for him.  You can't touch him because he has magical powers and they go away if you touch him.  Doesn't that sound like fun?

Caden:  You mean every night we are going to have an elf WALKING AROUND IN THE DARK AT OUR HOUSE!!! I'm sleeping with you!

Depending on their temperament and developmental needs, some children might think this is fun, while others may find it quite frightening.  In fact, it kind of creeps me out. :)

Children can easily get carried away with their pretending and that’s frightening for them. You know your little one and remember, to them it can be VERY REAL.