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I am sorry for so many questions. We have had a few very tough years here and it seems as though life is finally going to settle down! Some issues to cause our delays have been dh being deployed to Afghanistan for 20 months. Mom and sister both being very needy of me... I so need to read (well finish Boundaries!) So finally hubby is home and my mom and sisters' issues are finally pretty much resolved. So now it is time for us, and nothing is going to get in the way this time. I feel anxious though about all that needs to be done. As I have said before my older son (11) can get the spelling words down pat for his test, and then cannot remember them a week later. My just turned 10 year old is slower to learn the words but once he has them seems to be able to recall them (though it is very frustrating working with him due to him being so much slower.. like we have the hardest time even now with "men, ten, when" He just cannot remember that it should be e instead of i... ugh.. So my question is should I go ahead and just start them in Bigger spelling words/dictation (or should I keep on trying to get them to learn the words, go back a few grades or what??) I feel bad when they have to write stuff at Church because they are much slower then their peers in the class and I know they feel bad about it. We have been trying to just do a lot of extra spelling drill, but it is tiring and frustrating, and feels like a lost cause. I hate it for them because I know it is frustrating, my mom, sister and even husband are all NOT good spellers at all... they are always having me check their work, if they aren't on a computer that can spell check for them.. lol I don't want to stress my boys out, I would like this year to be a year of getting back on track. We are going to read the books together from the extension pack, and some other books from Sonlights list. They love reading (well moreso love me reading to them, but we take turns and that seems to work well). Is it okay really to just stop stressing and do the spelling/dictation as is. Will we see an improvement quickly? Thanks for reading through all my ramblings as I try to figure this all out!

Yes, it is okay - and even very advisable - to do the spelling/dictation as is! When choosing between the spelling and dictation, which do you lean toward? Dictation is kind of an old thing that is sort of a new thing to some of us - if that makes sense. Are you familiar with dictation? If not, reading the part where it describes how to go about it in the Appendix of Bigger Hearts at the start of the dictation passages will be helpful. I found it extremely helpful! I guess I'd read that, and then read through the Spelling plans in the LA box of the daily plans of Bigger Hearts to compare the two to decide which would be better for each of your dc. Dictation will be harder than Spelling List 2. I'd start wherever you really think they place best, as spelling is not something to double up on or cram for anyway. These CM methods of teaching spelling really do work! Though they do take consistency and time. My ds was a premie and had speech therapy for a few years - spelling was not his thing. He has been doing dictation for 3 going on 4 years now and is a very good speller. It took time though. His standardized test scores just went up this year, and now he's supposedly 2 years advanced. Anyway, yes, dictation does work, but it needs some time. HTH, and I pray you now can enjoy your year with dh home and family life settling down!

In Christ,
Julie

Thank you so much for your reply Julie. I guess I just need to be patient and not try to push them too fast.. I feel so stressed with their spelling, and hate for them to have to do any spelling at Church.. I feel horrible that it just hasn't clicked and also because I have tried to double up thinking this would help... ummmm NO did not help one bit.. Okay, so I just need to take some deep breaths and trust that this will work. I am going to do this, going to make it work, and take it one day at a time... now if the guide would get here, I would be set!! I can't wait to start.. Everything is on the way!

Oh good! I'm glad you are de-stressing yourself. I think once you get started with the guide, it will start off being difficult for them, but will gradually get easier and easier (that's what happened with each of our boys). Just do it every day you do school, and you'll begin to see progress. The best thing about dictation is it does carry over into their own writing over time. That's been my favorite benefit to doing it. Hope you get your stuff soon, and you'll have to share your box day with us here if you get the chance!

In Christ,
Julie