Spelling!

Throw out all the fancy spelling programs! The following is an excerpt from the book I am working on about homeschooling:

For several years I tried to teach my children how to spell. Every year I would get a new “curriculum” and follow it precisely, but nothing worked.

Finally came up with my own...

1st day:  Find 2 words they don't know how to spell. Have them write
those words 7 times. 

A good source of spelling words is a list of most commonly used English words. You can get this on the internet by clicking the link or googling "most commonly used English words" . You can also use words your kids misspell in their own writing.

2nd day:  Test to see if they know yesterday's words,  if they do, add 2
more. If they know one, find another word and have them write that and the
one they missed 7 times.

Keep adding to the list until there are 20 words, then let your child
scratch out the oldest words while always keeping 20 words on the list.

If they are having a bad day, I limit the amount of words they have to
write to the first two that they missed. 

Throw in a spelling rule now and then as needed.

Seems to simple to be true, but it works!

Use the same method to build vocabulary words by adding the requirement that the word be used in a sentence.

Math facts can be easily learned using this method as well.

Fun games like Scrabble and encouraging your child to use the computer to write, e-mail and chat are great ways for your children to reinforce what they learn in their daily drills. Teach them how to use the spell-check and watch with amazement as they pick it up!

Have fun!

God Bless You All!

~Grama Sue