Accent Marks

[Bradford Academy]

Hi, I don't post much because of my extra slow dial-up connection, but I have a question.

My dd 8 is having difficulty determining which syllable in a word receives the accent. Her reading is fine. She understand's what an accent mark does in a dictionary respelling. She just can't figure out which syllable to mark when she has exercises on accents in spelling.

I don't have a good explanation beyond "Which part of the word sounds strongest?" Is this really a necessary skill? Do I have permission to let this go? She is a perfectionist, and it frustrates her that she doesn't understand this.

Thanks for any help.

[Cadam]

We don't do that so far my kids have survived. Why not touch on the subject and then do it again in a couple of years and see if it is a little easier for her then. There are some things included in our curriculums that I just don't think it's worth stressing over. I bet when she is older she will be able to "hear" it more easily.

[kRenee]

I certainly wouldn't spend more than a few minutes on something like this, but try accenting each syllable of the word. The wrong ones will sound really wrong so you can eliminate them and end up with the right one.