Dictation Tears!!

This is where new posts begin. All questions or discussions about any of Heart of Dakota's curriculums start here. If you wish to share a one-time post about your family's experience with our curriculum, you may post under the specific curriculum title (found beneath this "Main Board" heading).
Post Reply
mrsrandolph
Posts: 717
Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:21 pm
Location: Cartersville, GA

Dictation Tears!!

Post by mrsrandolph » Mon Feb 23, 2015 5:06 pm

My 11 year old son cries during dictation time. He is sensitive and does have some mild learning issues especially when it comes to writing and spelling. I explain to him that it is NORMAL not to get the dictation 100% the first or even second time, but he feels (in his words) "stupid". When I do lower levels, he makes no mistakes, so I think we're on the right level of dictation for him. I just hate to see that crushed spirit. Thoughts?
Shannon Randolph LOVING HOD & Running 4 Guides & DITHOR
Mommy to 4 Precious Blessings
Cassie (15- World Geography),
Will (14- Rev2Rev,
Ellie (12- Res2Ref), and
Jack (10- CTC)

Nealewill
Posts: 1611
Joined: Sat Sep 14, 2013 5:08 pm
Location: Cincinnati, OH

Re: Dictation Tears!!

Post by Nealewill » Mon Feb 23, 2015 5:12 pm

My son is the same way. He has auditory processing disorder. I tried to start dictation this year with him and he completely flipped out. So I stopped am doing something else for the year. I would really like to eventually do dictation but at this point, I am not. I am hoping to hear some great thoughts of how other moms have tackled this.
Daneale

DD 13 WG
DS 12 R2R
DD 10 R2R

Enjoyed DITHOR, Little Hearts, Beyond, Bigger, Preparing, CTC, R2R, RevtoRev, MtMM

LynnH
Posts: 1846
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 12:41 pm
Location: OH
Contact:

Re: Dictation Tears!!

Post by LynnH » Mon Feb 23, 2015 5:50 pm

How often during the week is he having to redo the passages? He really should only have to redo 1 or at the most 2 passages a week and then only 1x. He should have plenty that he gets right the first time. If this isn't the case then he is at too high of a level. Even if that is all he is missing I think I would take him back to the easier level and let him have lots of success before he starts missing any.
Mom to:
dd 22 college graduate and employed as an Intervention Specialist
ds 18 US2, Loved Preparing, CTC , RTR , Rev to Rev, MTMM ,WG, WH and US1
http://www.graceandfur.blogspot.com/

Rice
Posts: 526
Joined: Tue Aug 06, 2013 10:00 am

Re: Dictation Tears!!

Post by Rice » Mon Feb 23, 2015 6:52 pm

If it was me. . . in fact, it was me earlier this year! . . . I would go back part way through a previous level and find a place that provides a tiny bit of a challenge but also a feeling of accomplishment. (In other words, I'm agreeing with LynnH here!)

My 12yo was struggling with the level I started him in when we came to HOD this year. I went back to a level that I knew would be easy for him if we started at the beginning, then went about 1/3 of the way through and took a look at it. I think we started just past 1/2 way through and he's still challenged (just passed a passage on his 3rd try today, while the one before he'd only had to do once) but has enough victory that it isn't defeating. He still says he hates dictation but when he really applies himself (and this is a struggle - executive functioning is as much a hurdle here as spelling and punctuation) he can be successful.

We've also just implemented a reward for him when he meets a goal in dictation. Right now, that is a chocolate bar if he can get 3 dictations correct the first try. It will be a challenge! The others aren't doing this and I won't keep it up indefinitely (I totally understand the benefits of intrinsic rewards and internal motivation) but he needed a concrete goal to work towards and a tangible reward.

It's hard when they get in their minds that they don't like a specific subject, when in reality they don't like how difficult it is for them. Hopefully making some changes will help your DS overcome this hurdle mentally and emotionally as much as academically. It's sometimes tempting to drop things that are/seem to be too difficult but I encourage you to keep on, changing things as needed. You may want to consider taking a short break (one unit maybe?) to help reset everything then start fresh, but don't delay too long!

Oh, and one other thing I'm going to try with my DS is modelling how to study and do a dictation passage. I sometimes wonder if my DS's failures are due to wanting to just get it done so he doesn't study it properly/well.

So much to learn, so many things to try, so many learning styles, so many personalities to reconcile to find what works in each subject for each child! You're not alone!
Blessings,
Rice

DS 21 - GRAD '20: after WG
DD 19 - GRAD '21: after WH
DS 17 - GRAD '22; did CTC-WH + 2yrs non-HOD (🇨🇦)
DS 15 not using a guide this year (DONE: LHFHG-MTMM)
DS 13 MTMM (DONE: Prep-Rev2Rev)
DS 11 +
DD 9 CTC (DONE: Prep)
6yo DS phonics

Mumkins
Posts: 794
Joined: Sat Feb 14, 2009 8:45 pm
Location: Ontario
Contact:

Re: Dictation Tears!!

Post by Mumkins » Mon Feb 23, 2015 7:05 pm

I just started dictation with my 9yo. She has auditory/visual issues. Most of the words are easy for her to spell. A few aren't though. She ends up missing a period or forgot to capitalize. I'm glad it's not too hard so she feels successful. I know she's learning to Pay attention to the details.

Maybe back up a level, and do every other one? If he's getting them all right, he'll pass through real quick and you can see where to slow down.
7 awesome kids!

3 graduated
4 at home this fall
DD6 Beyond
DS10 Preparing
DS13 MTMM
DS16 online high school

daybreaking
Posts: 317
Joined: Thu May 20, 2010 12:21 pm

Re: Dictation Tears!!

Post by daybreaking » Mon Feb 23, 2015 7:16 pm

mrsrandolph wrote: I explain to him that it is NORMAL not to get the dictation 100% the first or even second time, but he feels (in his words) "stupid". When I do lower levels, he makes no mistakes, so I think we're on the right level of dictation for him.

Since we're talking about studied dictation, I would think the norm should be for the student to get it 100% right the first time. If your son is frequently making mistakes, that indicates to me that he is in the wrong level. If I were in your shoes, I would move him back a level and let him have the feeling of success. You have plenty of time for him to move up in the levels, so there's no need to rush. Plus, if he is struggling now, it's only going to continue as he progresses to more difficult passages.
Last edited by daybreaking on Mon Feb 23, 2015 9:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Wife to one amazing husband and mother to two precious blessings from above:
ds22 & dd18

mrsrandolph
Posts: 717
Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:21 pm
Location: Cartersville, GA

Re: Dictation Tears!!

Post by mrsrandolph » Mon Feb 23, 2015 8:17 pm

About 2 moths ago, I skipped forward with him half a level because he was getting 100% every time.
Shannon Randolph LOVING HOD & Running 4 Guides & DITHOR
Mommy to 4 Precious Blessings
Cassie (15- World Geography),
Will (14- Rev2Rev,
Ellie (12- Res2Ref), and
Jack (10- CTC)

3greatkids
Posts: 39
Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2013 6:58 pm

Re: Dictation Tears!!

Post by 3greatkids » Mon Feb 23, 2015 8:29 pm

I'm so glad someone is asking about dictation! We are in year #2 of homeschooling, both years with HOD, and I have a DS, just 10, who is struggling too. We can get two or three in a row on the first try, then have a passage we have to do 4 times. I'm appreciating all the feedback on this thread.
Happy To Be Homeschooling In Maine

daybreaking
Posts: 317
Joined: Thu May 20, 2010 12:21 pm

Re: Dictation Tears!!

Post by daybreaking » Mon Feb 23, 2015 9:38 pm

mrsrandolph wrote:About 2 moths ago, I skipped forward with him half a level because he was getting 100% every time.
Although it could be that your son just needs to learn to study the harder passages (take a look at viewtopic.php?f=6&t=12696 and scroll down to Carrie and Julie's responses), I still would lean towards putting him back where he was being successful and just let him gradually progress, especially since you're only talking half a level. Even if he gets 100% every time, because of the richness integrated into dictation, he still will be gaining skills and learning.

Wife to one amazing husband and mother to two precious blessings from above:
ds22 & dd18

Nealewill
Posts: 1611
Joined: Sat Sep 14, 2013 5:08 pm
Location: Cincinnati, OH

Re: Dictation Tears!!

Post by Nealewill » Mon Feb 23, 2015 10:09 pm

I am trying not to steal the thread but my son was doing the lowest level of dictation. He could spell the lists with no problem at all but he flips out if he makes any mistakes at all. My guess is that if we try it again next year, his attitude will hopefully improve and we might not have this issue of his lack of control with his attitude.
Daneale

DD 13 WG
DS 12 R2R
DD 10 R2R

Enjoyed DITHOR, Little Hearts, Beyond, Bigger, Preparing, CTC, R2R, RevtoRev, MtMM

Post Reply