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I don't know whether to do the spelling list or dictation with my 9yo. We will be doing bigger this coming year. In the past we have used All About Spelling which we love and was great but this year I am trying to simplify and use all of HOD.
He is a natural speller but doesn't think he can spell and always asks me.
I think he would do fine with the dictation but I wondered if it would be better to take him through the spelling list since I know a lot of those words on there he could not spell. I do think he would do fine if he studied them for the week though.
Just not sure which one would be best for him.

Kim,

If you think that your son isn't able to spell a lot of the words on the spelling lists without studying, then I would definitely start with the spelling lists. We want kiddos to have exposure to those words and get as many of those Dolch/commonly used words into their memory bank as possible before beginning studied dictation. Plus, the visualizing activities the kiddos do along with the spelling lists each week are excellent mental picturing exercises to prepare kiddos for studied dictation.

Blessings,
Carrie

Can I add to the original question? My 10yo DD is going in to Preparing and is still facing some challenges with reading, and thus with spelling too. Does Preparing have instructions on spelling somewhere in it, like I assume Bigger would have? Or maybe a better question is, how do I learn how to teach spelling the way you recommend to an older student who has not formally studied spelling, only done copy work (and just started dictation at the end of last year, not with HOD)? If I were to do spelling, would I do that instead of dictation or every day that dictation is not scheduled or. . . ??

Thanks!
Blessings,

Since you own the PHFHG manual, I'd try the dictation first, following the directions in the Appendix at the start of Level 2's dictation passages. If you find that is too difficult for dd, I'd get either the Beyond or BHFHG manual and work through the daily plans using the LA box and the spelling lists in the Appendix. You would have a younger student moving up and needing Beyond or BHFHG anyway. If you go this route, when you order the rest of the Economy Pkg from HOD (i.e if you get the Beyond manual and next year want to order the rest of the Beyond Economy Pkg), let HOD know you ordered the Beyond guide from them already. They will look up your past order and credit back the package savings to you. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie