How do you make spelling rules "stick"?

[HappyGrace]

Dd just turned 8 is not transferring the spelling rules she is learning over to her writing. I started using Alphabetarian's Spelling Patterns to try to fix this and systematically teach the rules, but she's not retaining. She's very, very advanced, no learning problems, etc.; not sure why this is a sticking point. For background, we dabbled with SWR and AAS the past couple years, to no avail. This year for spelling practice we do a Spelling Power type thing with the words she misspells in her writing and also with word lists from the WISE guide. Her general spelling is great, due to her 7th grade reading level and voracious reading, plus she's visual, it's just the rules for adding suffixes, etc. She'll spell paid like payed, forget to double consonants before endings, etc. Any suggestions?

[Ellie]

Practice, practice, practice. She's just 8, so I'm not suprised that some of those spelling rules are not sticking; how many adults do we see who make all sorts of spelling errors? :-)

I did want to say that "dabbling" in SWR won't effect much of an improvement, as you have seen. You have to give it your all if you want to see it work.

[Trivium Academy]

Have you tried using them as memory work or copywork?

Games?
http://www.marin.edu/homepages/robinlavin/COspelling.htm

[HappyGrace]

I studied SWR for months before starting it, including both DVDs and the yahoo group files and doing my own log. We followed it verbatim for several months of crying and resistance on dd's part-she hated the dictation process. And she is not one to balk. So then we did AAS levels 1 and 2, which was too easy and didn't get to the problem areas. After learning so much about SWR, all other spelling programs pale in comparison. I can't stand the "word family" approach most of them use, and they only serve to confuse dd, a visual learner. (Even AAS tends to degrade into this approach.) So I created my own "Spelling Power" type approach using WISE guide words, which is working well for all but the spelling rules for adding endings, etc. It is probably just a maturity thing. She usually catches on to everything so quickly and ahead of schedule that it throws me when she gets "stuck" on something! Jessica, LOVE the spelling games! I was bummed when spellingtime.com started charging for their website. This will be a big help. Thank you!

[one l michele]

It's like math concepts, they need to be worked with enough to understand them, then reviewed enough through using regularly so they aren't forgotten.

[AllSmiles]

This year, I started spelling memory cards. Everytime my son's book introduces a new spelling rule, we add a new memory card. He goes over these cards when he does his other memory work.

He is not a strong speller, and I think he just needs to see and repeat these rules over and over for them to stick.

[Alana in Canada]

Thanks for the games!
My daughter has been quite upset at losing Spelling time, too.

[mcconnellboys]

Suggestion? Time. I think she's just young and will grow out of this. I think a lot of kids do this when they're young. Just keep plugging,

Regena

[Jann in TX]

From your description your dd is not a 'natural' speller. The act of learning spelling rules does not work for those of us who are not natural spellers. Her reading level has VERY LITTLE to do with her spelling level as very different parts of the brain are used for each task.

You said she was visual--well, she is filing away the spelling rules in a very different part of her brain than she uses when she begins to put her thoughts down on paper. Instead of being associated with 'words' she will be using, the spelling 'rules' are filed away with other 'general information to know'.

Given time she MAY be able to cope---but most spelling programs will not work--especially if they require memorization of 'rules' or lists of words. If you give her a list of words to 'learn' each week she will probably do fine on the 'test'...but ask her to spell them the next week....well, she will probably miss quite a few.

This really is not a 'spelling' problem--it is a learning style issue.

I am NOT a natural speller. My 2 oldest dd's are NOT natural spellers--my DH and youngest dd are. I learned to cope--but I was (and still am) secretly embarrassed because I just cannot spell with any sort of confidence. (I've already hit 'spell check' several times just typing this post!) I ALWAYS made 100% on my spelling/vocabulary tests in school---I could memorize but I just could not transfer. My 2 oldest dd were not coping very well either...in fact they were not progressing with their writing due to the inability to spell. Even as a 6th grader my oldest dd would choose very simple words in her writing...but she would use a very extensive vocabulary when speaking...spelling--or rather her lack of ability to spell was holding her back. I switched her to Sequential Spelling and it all started to click and life has gotten so much better (and MY spelling even improved!).

So my thoughts for the day :) would be to take a look at a different type of spelling program--Sequential Spelling. It does not require that she memorize rules, or even take tests! Just 5-10 minutes a day and you should see big results in her daily writing in about 6 weeks.

[deeinfl]

I believe Megawords addresses all these issues and I only wish I would have started it sooner with my oldest son.

With my next child (7 year old boy) we will begin using this series as soon as we are done with the Explode the Code series.

You can see samples of it and read reviews at christianbook.com

HTH, Dee:D