Zack is in the 2nd grade this year.He has had 3 spelling test`s so far that includes 2 sentences that they have to write.
He is doing horrible!!
He has 12 words and is averaging 4 right out of 12.We study the words every night.
What am I doing wrong?
The words he get`s wrong at home I have him write them 6 times each.
Should I be doing something different?
He likes school a lot,
he`s just not that crazy about language arts.
he love`s math and does great in it.
Do any of you have any tips for studying?
TIA ! Sue

By Conni on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 11:50 pm:

I helped tutor some kids in Spelling one yr. They had all kinds of games they did with the words. Let me think....

Spelling word cut up-- child had to put the letters back together in the right order.

Flash cards with first letter of word missing-- child had to figure out the word. (i think I am remembering that right)

Boy, I cant remember what else we did. But I can tell you that we pulled them out in the morning and worked for about 15 minutes with them. The one's that were making F's began to make A's!!!!!!!!!!

If your ds is like me he may need to see, hear, read, touch the word, write the word, etc... I swear I have a reallyyyyy hard time in college right now! ugh I am really a slow learner for some reason.

Good luck and I hope you get some great advice.

By Coopaveryben on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 07:51 am:

Those are some great ideas Conni. For my sons spelling test I "pretend" to be the teacher and give him a test the exact way the teacher would, I only give him a limited amount of time and then move on to the next word. When it is over we review it and re-do the words he missed. We also practice it in the car, I say a word and he has to spell it.

By Audreyj on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 12:01 pm:

Computer Time at our house is a real treat. My four year old is learning to read and we use http://www.starfall.com It teaches basic reading skills with games and stories and she just loves it. I use it in addition to her cirriculum. Also www.funbrain.com is popular around here. So is funschool. Sesame Street has stories that can read online. Sometimes I just go to my search engine and type in "Preschool Reading Games online" I get all kinds of stuff. Of course, the children are always, always, always, supervised during computer time. And we don't do over an hour. But it really works and they are learning.
Audreyj

By Audreyj on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 12:23 pm:

My second grade daughter was looking over my shoulder and she has what might be a good idea....

You said he loves Math. My DD brought me one of her workbooks and showed me a puzzle in it I had forgotton about.

At the top of this worksheet, it says "What has four wheels and flies?"

Then, there is a code.

1=A 2=G 3=R 4=B 5=E 6=T 7=U 8=C 9=K

Then, there are a series of math problems.

9-7= 8-7= 6-3= 9-5= 3-2= 4-2= 9-4=
(Code answer is Garbage)

Then
7-1= 8-5= 9-2= 9-1= 9-0=
(Code answer is Truck)

My DD thought it was hilarious because it is a joke. But you could make up codes for your DS spelling words too. That way, he could use math (something he likes) to help him with spelling( something he doesn't like)....

I never would have thought of that....

Guess it takes a second grader to know a second grader! LOL

AJ

By Luvn29 on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 02:56 pm:

There is a new computer game that I saw in an issue of "Parenting" magazine where kids type in their spelling words for the week, and play different games with those words, learning to spell them. There are several different games that you can play.

I'm thinking of getting it for my kids. I'll try to find the name of it. It looked great!

Also, make him write the words that he doesn't know before he has the test so he can learn them before it counts.

Good luck!

By Pamt on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 10:56 pm:

One of the big parts of my job is helping kids learn how to spell correctly. Make sure he is not memorizing his list of spelling words, but understanding the concept for the week. Most word lists are divided into things like vowel-consonant-silent "e" words or words that make the long A sound like "train, game, eight, great." If he gets the basic concepts down then he will have much better success and the words will stick in his mind better. Things like vowel-consonant-"e" then the vowel makes the long sound (and a long sound says its name long a= ay, long e= eeee, etc.) and "when 2 vowels go walking the first one does the talking"--usually (boat, plain, bean).

By Sue3 on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 10:10 am:

Thanks for your ideas and suggestions.I will try them with Zack..

By Truestori on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - 04:22 pm:

Sue,
I think some of the games mentioned above would be great! I have heard that the more kids read the better their writing and spelling become. My daughter has had a hard time with spelling tests at school and reading has really helped her progress. Also, kids get nervous when test time comes around. Talk to him and see if that has anything to do with it.
Goodluck