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:
- 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".
- Clap the syllables. Amazing how many children cannot really clap syllables. Then have him write EACH syllable.
- Each syllable needs some kind of vowel(s). Amazing how many children do not know this.
- Think of another word he CAN spell that sounds the same and use that word as support
- 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.
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!!!
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