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Hi Everyone!


How can I improve my 3rd grader's spelling?

Well-I have never had more success with spelling than I am this year with Bigger Hearts. My 3rd grader is using the spelling list and the daily spelling lessons in Bigger, and my 4th grader is using the dictation passages in the appendix. This and using the poetry for copywork, one or two lines a day. We are on weekk 17, and both their spelling has improved dramatically. I have tried a lot of spelling programs, and none have worked as well as the simple methods of copywork, dictation, and practicing remembering how a word ought to look-and it takes so little time each day, I am amazed.

Lourdes hit it right on the nail....copywork, dictation...spelling is all about visualization. You have to be able to see that the word doesn't look right when you misspell it, and to do that you have to have seen the word spelled correctly many times. Most of the time, a good reader will be a good speller....but not always. Some kiddos need more practice esp. if they are not good visualizers.

Here's a link to a spelling site that has many good articles on spelling.

http://www.all-about-spelling.com/spelling-lessons.html

I'm not rec. the book, just read her site....there's a LOT of info. there.

Carrie's method of using the index cards, and her different ways of praticing misspelled words, has helped us tremendously. And my daughter LOVES it; spelling is her favorite part of the day right now. As a matter of fact, the reason we are going back to HOD next year (why did we ever leave?) is because her spelling was not going well with the other program we were using. She has excelled with the Beyond lists, and I can't wait to get to Bigger!

hugsathome,

I'm just popping in to point you to a thread that may be of some encouragement to you as well:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=229

Blessings,
Carrie

my dad made a Tape recording of my spelling words he would spell them for me 3 times and I would write them all down then flip over my paper and the words would be repeated and I'd have to do them from memory.. I'm not sure it worked tho since i still failed lots of spelling tests but then again i have dislexia or is it dyslecia or dyslexia... lol

How encouraging! Thanks.

I'm still asking questions and have not placed my first order to HOD....but I love the responses I'm getting. Once again, THANK YOU!!

Just wanted to say that in addition to the awesome spelling instruction already in the HOD guides, my best spelling "friend" is a handheld white marker board and a black marker. Something about seeing the word written one at a time on the marker board in this way sticks in my dc's minds so much better. I use it for phonics as well. Carrie's "tactile" ideas really helped too, and the CM ideas really do work over time - dictation, copywork, etc. They are a slow burn, but they are the best thing I've ever seen for teaching spelling long-term!!!

Oh yeah, we use a white board, too!

The whiteboard is my friend! We write assignments for each day up there, but I also use it for writing dd's dictation sentences for spelling or when explaining a math or LA lesson. We also were give several of the small square whiteboards that the kids can place on their lap or the table. These are great to take along when my daughter has ice skating. I use it for younger ds to practice letters, his name, short words. He loves to copy what I write. I LOVE the whiteboard.