Should we start spelling??

[Mom4Him]

My oldest girls turned 6 in October and are in Kindergarten doing LHFHG. I know spelling starts in Beyond, but I was wondering if it would be wise to start them with it now!? They are constantly writing... writing letters to their friends, writing cards to their leaders at church, filling a full page or 2 or 3 in their prayer journals, etc. Yet, so much of what they are writing is spelled incorrectly (cute... but incorrect). I completely understand (and love) the idea of having children not see misspelled words, as this will imprint the wrong spellings in their minds... yet, it seems that right now their writing is just full of misspelled words- I can't keep up with it. I do write words out for them on a white board and/or spell words out-loud for them, which helps, but doesn't seem enough (and gets difficult to have 3 girls continually asking how to spell all sorts of words). I have also made sure (as much as I can) that any items they are giving to others have the words spelled correctly (and letters going the right way)- which helps also! To me, it seems like the oldest 2 are very ready for spelling instruction, but I don't want to push them too much, especially when I know this is something they will be working on next year. We do already have the Beyond guide, as we are working our way through the Emerging Readers Set, so I could just use those plans. But, what do you think? Should we get a couple months of spelling in before summer, or are there other options I'm not thinking of? I thought maybe I read somewhere that it was better to wait until 1st grade, so I'm just unsure.
Thanks for the help!! I always love coming to this board!
Jessica

[Kathleen]

I started it with Allison this fall. We were already a ways into the emerging readers, and I just picked it up when we had time since Asa was born this fall, too. It's going well, and it's not too difficult at all. In fact, we haven't really used any of the cute ideas on day 4 of the plans because she spells all the words correctly. From what you've shared, I would think they're ready and go for it! We're not using the grammar lessons in that box yet, just the spelling on days 1-4. We'll start Beyond in 10 days, and I'll use them then. There are 2 sets of spelling lists in Beyond, so you'll be able to keep going with them through Beyond and part of Bigger, too.

Kathleen

[twoxcell]

Since there are two levels of spelling in Beyond I do not see how it could hurt. Just start with the first level and continue with the second when you get to it.

[faithful2him]

We have been doing spelling with my 7 year old son this year. He saw older brother with spelling and he wanted it too. Since he was an emerging reader when we began this year, I used sight words provided by my older son's 1st grade public school teacher. This list was given to me several years ago.

I broke the lists down to 10 words a week. I also added several lists...colors, days of the week, numbers from 1-20, months.

I truly believe these lists have helped him with reading and writing both. He recognizes the words as he reads because he can spell them himself.

I tried attaching the list, but could not. If you would like a copy of the lists as a resource, let me know and I will send you one.

Blessings.
Deb

[raceNzanesmom]

My 6 y/o is doing LHFHG and we're using spelling list 1 from Beyond. It's going well and even seems to be helping wih his reading.

[my3sons]

Yes, your smart little cookies sound ready to start Spelling List 1 in Beyond! Way to go gals! Just be sure to do all of the spelling plans in the Language Arts box of Beyond, as these go much deeper and teach much more than just "spelling lists" can. They prepare dc for dictation, and simply pretesting and post-testing a list of words does not. Also, there is no need to find other lists of words such as "colors, days of the week, numbers from 1-20, months". These words are covered beautifully in the following units of Beyond:
Unit 32: color words
Unit 33: number words (also covered in Singapore Math plans with higher numbers)
Unit 34: days of the week (also covered in Unit 17, Day 5's Grammar lesson)
Units 19, 20, and 21: LA Box of grammar covers the months

In Christ,
Julie

[Kathleen]

Hey Julie -
Just a question here. We've been following the plans in the boxes for spelling. But like I said above, I think there have been 2 words in the 16 weeks of spelling we've done where Allison has misspelled a word on the "day 4" plans. I love the fun little activities that Carrie has to do with the missed words. Since she's not missing the words, should we be doing the activities anyway? (You know, the hopping, jumping, writing it in cornmeal, etc.) We have a couple of times just because it looked fun...and Allison LOVED it! What do you think?
Kathleen

[krismoose]

bumping this up for Julie...

[moedertje]

Jessica, I am so glad you are on top of your 2 little sweeties I agree with Julie, to do all the lists and follow the plans Carrie has. My ds did not miss much either, but it does prepare them for dictation Everything Carrie does has a reason and we as Mom's see it as we get to the subsequent guides
We are in dictation and loving it! So starting now is a great idea, just follow Carries plans and your kiddo's will have lots of fun!
Succes

[Mom4Him]

Thanks everyone!! We are headed on vacation next week, but once we come back we will start spelling- I think they will love it & it will make me happier!
And we will use the spelling lists in the back of Beyond & use it just as Carrie states- I see great benefits in doing it that way! Thank-you, Julie, for clarifying when certain types of words are taught!
I would also be interested to know if we should do the extra activity (day 4), even if we are not missing many/any words!? They seem like great fun!
Blessings,
Jessica

[my3sons]

Hi Kathleen! Sorry to just be getting back to you - I'm in Memphis at a convention and just saw this. You really don't need to do the extra activities you mentioned unless your little sweetie misses words. You surely could just for fun though! I love Allison's spark for learning - if she's loving writing in cornmeal or likes hopping her way through her spelling words, why not? But for one busy mama with 4 lovely dc, it's not necessary. I think I did those activities twice all year, as Riley didn't miss words more than that. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[Kathleen]

But for one busy mama with 4 lovely dc, it's not necessary. I think I did those activities twice all year, as Riley didn't miss words more than that. HTH!

Whew! Thanks Julie! Thankfully she only missed a word on a hopping or jumping day...way easier than getting out cornmeal one-handed. I was just wondering if those activities were necessary or really beneficial to getting ready for dictation. Glad to see that we can use them when necessary during our weeks, but I don't need to feel like I have to add them in when we don't need to.

Have a great time in Memphis!
Kathleen