Homeschool World Forum

kkapfe · User Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 55 Location: Illinois

My daughter (2nd grade) is still struggling with a spelling/reading issue. We started our year (we're 6 weeks in) by doing the "traditional" spelling process...get a list of words on Monday, work with them all week, take test on Friday. It was not going well because she was just trying to memorize them and even that was not happening successfully. I tried to take the pressure off from testing and we began a few weeks ago with a public domain book called "Word Mastery". It is a phonics book for grades 1-3. We have been reviewing short vowel (cvc) words for a couple of weeks. Some days we just read through lots of words, some days she spells the words using letter tiles, and on a very few days, I've had her write the words on paper. She can read all of the words with a 98% success. However, I have caught on that she can't spell words with the vowels i and e. It's like she can't hear it! She can read it perfectly but can't spell it. She does a lot better with long vowels because the sounds are more distinct.

Has anyone encountered this problem? What have you done to practice hearing the vowel sounds? I want her to learn to spell more phonetically instead of just memorizing because it helps when you are trying to spell a word that you don't know.

Jazzy · User Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 214

Have you taken a look at sequential spelling? It is designed for children who have trouble with the traditional way of memorizing spelling lists:

http://www.avko.org/sequentialspelling.html

You could also e-mail the owner of the program, and ask his thoughts about the issue above. I know that he answers e-mail.

There's a thread about it here: http://www.home-school.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5355

Good luck!
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imgreen42 · Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 1:31 pm Post subject:

I have been using Hooked on Phonics Spelling. It works well because my son (2nd grade) will actually do it. He thinks it's fun.

roma · User Joined: 17 Dec 2008 Posts: 26

Sequential spelling teaches the root words first, and then builds on them. I like that program.
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roma · User Joined: 17 Dec 2008 Posts: 26

To hear phonic sounds for free on line

http://www.read-phonics.com/free-phonics-sounds-video.html

This should help with the vowel sounds

P.S. As a private and home school tutor I find Sequential Spelling was designed for the dyslexic, but works well with all children.
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