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Hello, what would you suggest if the spelling/dictation for my 10 year old. She will be doing Bigger in the Fall and the lists and dictation in the back are too easy for her. Would you recommend getting the Preparing guide just for the dictation passages? I know there are 3 levels in the back...where are these passages taken from? Are they purposeful or just random? Could they do spelling/studied dictation from their Bible memory verses or what would be best. I have always done a phonics/rule based spelling and this will be a big change for us...I am a little nervous. Is there a progression of the words in the dictation passages and is there built in review to check for mastery??
Sorry for so many questions?? Has anyone used this method over a longer period of time and had success? Would love to hear anyone's experience good or bad and recommendations for how to use this spelling approach with my DD.
Thanks!
Beth

We'll just be starting Bigger ourselves this fall so I can't be a lot of help. I have looked over the dictation that we'll be doing in the fall and I think there is a planned progression to it. I think the dictation in Bigger is from The Modern Speller. I know there are several more levels of dictation from the same author, but I don't know if that is what is used in the later guides. Hopefully this will bump up and someone who is using the later guides can help you. I do think if the dictation is too easy in Bigger, that a good route to take would be to get the Preparing guide and start with the level of dictation in it that is appropriate. That way you would be already set with your guide for the following year

The dictation in the guides is taken from Dictation Day by Day, by Kate Van Wagenen, which is a book from yesteryear. So yes, there is a method to the progression of the words, it isn't random. I do believe the next levels up are contained in Preparing, so I would get that. We have CTC which has levels 3,4, and 5 in it. There are dictation samples somewhere in these threads from the guides, maybe someone will post a link (I don't know how to do that! ) I really love the dictation passages, the ones in the upper levels have such great content in them, that I really enjoy reading them.

I'm also doing Bigger next year, and the dictation passages in the guide would be easy for my oldest. She is doing the history extensions, so I'm just going to take passages from her readings and use those for dictation. I've already selected the majority of passages and typed them up, so that my dd can use the typed sheet to study the passage from and use to make any corrections. That way, she can still follow Carrie's/CM's method of studied dictation in the guide. Granted, it's extra work, but that's how I decided to handle it. I thought it would be neat to have her dictation passages come from her readings. I didn't want to buy the next guide yet, but as a PP said, you could certainly just buy the next guide for passages. I also have seen samples of them somewhere on the board.

So that's my way of covering it!

There is a progression within the dictation that builds upon itself. I have relied upon this to help my dc improve their spelling skills, especially my oldest whom had speech early on. I do think using the next level (even if I had to get the next guide up for that purpose) would be what I would want to do. However, if funds permit, you can do CM dictation with passages of your own choosing. Here are some links to dictation passage samples for all guides except RTR (as I don't have those yet):
Dictation Samples:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1221
CTC Level 5 Dictation Sample:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5068&p=37153#p37153

I'd also say dictation is harder than it looks. If dc miss anything, and I mean ANYTHING, they need to redo the passage. My ds struggled with a punctuation mark here or there more often than the actual spelling. That still meant he had to repeat the passage the next day, even though he was always slapping his forehead saying, "AHHHHH, I KNEW that one, Mom!" Yeah, he thought he did. But if he did, he would have gotten right in the first place. You may want to try it first and make sure the next level is really needed. If it is, than you'll get it knowing it's well worth it.

In Christ,
Julie

Thanks so much for your great suggestions and sharing your experiences! It is much appreciated!
Beth

Beth,

The ladies have already done a great job of helping you, so I'll just pop-in to post a couple of links on dictation for you as well. Link:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5186
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=925

Blessings,
Carrie

Thanks Carrie! Those were excellent links and super helpful. I am learning that spelling dictation doesn't necessarily have to be difficult that they are mastering the words if they are spelling them each day. Thanks!