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So, I have decided to do something totally different for the kids' spelling program. I have tried the AVKO spelling and didn't really stick to it so I can't say that it didn't help. But I can say that what we have been doing - next to nothing - isn't working for sure. Studied dictation doesn't really seem to help. Neither of my older students are good spellers, much like their father, and Rachel is too young to know yet. For a while, I thought about just chalking it up to 'they'll never be good spellers, let's move on...' But I have decided that is not right thinking. They can be better spellers even if they never become good spellers.

With that thought in mind, I came up with this theory: why do they need to spell well? They need to spell well to improve their ability to communicate in writing. Simple enough, right? Doesn't it stand to reason then that if they focus on the words used most often in the English language that it would serve them well? Yes, I know it doesn't review phonics rules and that kind of stuff (good stuff though it may be) but it gets to the heart of the matter. So, here is what I did. I looked up the 3000 most used words in the English language and printed it off. I will use this list as their spelling words for the next year or more. I will pre-test through until they are fairly challenged and, at that point, begin with the first 20 words for them to study and test; the next list would be the next 20 - including any of the previous list they missed. If it takes them all of the rest of their homeschool years to work through this list it will still be working on the words they need to learn most, right? This is my theory for what it's worth. We'll see how it works.

Comments

  1. Spelling Power by Beverly L. Adams-Gordon uses the 5,000 most frequently used words, organized by phonetic principles and spelling rules and can be used from grades 2-12. I have used it by years and it is very easy. Just a thought if you want more words, arranged more by 'grade' (Rachel did all though 12th grade by the time she was done with 8th grade...so she finished the book). But it has a 2 pretests to help you figure out what 'grade' to use. There is some review of words per the spelling rule.

    Just a thought...and you might be able to find it used online like at CathSwap or somewhere else....

    Love,
    Anne

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  2. That's really a good idea Susan. Let us know how it goes.

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