How to make a better speller?

Question

My 2nd grade son is a horrible speller. I was too until recently when I finally started using the "look it up" rule. But what can I do to help him learn his spelling words? He has a new list each week and it seems near impossible for him to memorize them in that short amount of time. I've tried writing them out again and again. We've made up sentences using the words and used flash cards. Still, when the spelling test rolls around, he bombs. I know he's trying, but he sounds out words that can't be sounded out. What to do??? Help!

Answer 1

your son might learn in more of a hands on way. I had the same problem with my stepson when he was about the same age. Here's some things we did that helped:

Get alphabet cookie cutters and let him spell out his words with cookies, then eat them!

have him finger paint his words, the combination of the color, and the actual painting of the words helps him remember them

fill a water bottle with water and food coloring and have him "write" his words outside on the sidewalk.

Get a sheet that you don't mind ruining and tape it down to the floor. Write the letters of the alphabet on it, in blocks large enough for him to stand on. Have him jump from letter to letter spelling out his words.

That's all I can remember for now, but if you find ways to make it "fun" he'll remember them better!

Answer 2

Have him write each word ten times, then give him a practice test.  Have him write every word he gets wrong another ten times and give another test.  Do this every day, if he needs it.

Answer 3

What about having the teacher give him an easier list? My son is in 2nd grade and has been doing the easier list and now is going to start the challenge list. Talk to his teacher.

Another option - this is what we did with our older son when he was in 2nd grade. He'd bring home his list and we'd give him a practice test saying the word, using it in a sentence and then repeating the word a few more times. For each word he misspelled on that list, he wrote each 5 times. We did this each day and even the morning of the test.  If that still doesn't work, talk to the teacher and get her/his input. Let the teacher know your concerns. Good luck!

Answer 4

jolly phonics is a great way to get a child to read and spell it all has to do wth the sounding out of words.and putting them together they are books available where a lot of the sentances are repeated over and over.even when you out with your son get him to sound out things he might see make it fun.the important thing is to read to him get him interested in books get him to sound out the words that he sees.make if fun.

Answer 5

Try getting him to read more. People who read more are usually better spellers.

Don't make it a chore--if he isn't enjoying himself, he'll be less likely to learn the words.

Try making a game out of each list (like, "pick the correct spelling", "match the syllables to spell the word", etc).

Make songs/jingles/rhythmic beats out of the spellings.

Answer 6

On the weeks my son gets spelling words. My son gets 10 words a week.  The First night we start with three words, Tues: those three plus three new, Wed: those six plus three new, Thurs: Those nine plus one new and big review.  Children are overwhelmed when it's too much at one time.  Take it slowly.  While my son may not get 100 %, he does get the majority right and then we celebrate!!!  We don't spend enough time praising our children when they try but that's all that matters!!!  Hope this helps!!!  P.s. My son is in a special needs class  and does better than the children in his class that are two and three years older than him, so never let your children believe that anything or anyone can hold them back!!!

Answer 7

teach him the rules like "i before e except after c or in cases of a as in neighbor and weigh."  Rules like that will help him to sound words out better.  Or as his teacher to do an assesment on him to tell where his problem areas are.  If the teacher doesn't do it call the local university and see if one of the teaching students would like to do it for a project.

Answer 8

Find a fun way to help him spell. Ex. There is a show on TVOKids about "building words"(spelling) maybe that can help. Try some games to help him spell. Even try songs to help spell.

Answer 9

I am going through the same thing with my 2nd grader.  He is all A's and B's except for spelling and he fails it everytime.  We made a turn around last quarter with him because instead of just practicing them in the evenings we started making a game of it and when we were in the car we would practice, I got him crayon soap so when he is in the tub he will write them on the edge of the tub, we make a game of how many times he can find the word in his story that night.  We also do the flashcards.  On the front i write out the word and on the back it has the first and last letter if I show him that side he has to fill in the blanks.  Every night we do a practice test at home and on the morning before the test we take another before school.  He came home with a C last quarter so we are getting there.  The big thing is to make it fun no matter how you do it.  If it is just a matter of here are the words learn them then they get bored with it and feel more like it is a punishment than learning.

Answer 10

label EVERYTHING, and i mean everything. couches, tables, chairs, tv's, decorations, food items, clothes, put little labels on everything in the house and everytime he sees them his photographic memory will kik in

Answer 11

have you tried spelling word scrabble?  we play this all the time we put letters on little squares we cut out of construction paper or a cereal box  we play every night.  

try to teach him the patterns.  base ime  slime time dime   ant pant cant  an pan Dan man tan ame came dame blame tame

you could also hold a family spelling bee.  make it a competition. practice all week and then on Thursday night have the spelling bee.  kids love to win so he will work harder

Try writing silly stories using his spelling words the story will be hilarious.

This is what we do,  to practice our spelling,

Monday he writes his words on a half sheet of paper,  circles 5 words and then  writes the word  looks up the word in the dictionary, writes the part of speach and then  the definition and use the word in a sentence.

Tuesday he writes the words on the first half of his list 3 times each.   then uses the words in a sentence.

Wednsday he does the second half of his list.

Thursday he uses all twenty five words in sentences

thursday night we hold the spelling Bee.  Friday morning before school we go over his words at breakfast so it is fresh in his mind any words he misses he has to respell until he gets them right.

you could also fold  a peice of paper into several sqares, let him draw a picture to represent the word and then lable the picture.  this not only teaches spelling, it also helps with comprehention.

Answer 12

I'm a homeschooling mom and I worried & worried about my daughter's spelling.

She didn't catch on till age 8! But other homeschooling moms told me it takes some kids this long. But it drove me nuts! We tried everything.

Finally I tried something that I said would be our last try. After that i was just going to have to give up and pay someone else to teach her spelling. I was at my wits end.

What worked for us was this: http://www.avko.org/

They focus on word family spelling. Pretty much if you can spell:

Cat

then you can also spell:

bat, sat, mat, rat (and so)

Plus we signed up for: Spellingtime.com (it was a free site then but well worth it. I strongly suggest it for your son. It will work! You can use the spelling words he gets from school on it.

Now I tried this with my other homeschooling daughter who is 7 & some of the words were just to big for her.

What works with my 7yr old is this: McGuffey's Eclectic Spelling Book by William Holmes McGuffey

http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/15456

My oldest had trouble hearing sounds too. She still does at times & I have heard some kids are just like this. I will get her to hold up her hand and just how you use to count the syllibals in words we will say the word slowly and hold up a finger each time you heard a sound.

For example: Cat

Kah (hold up one finger) Ahhh (hold up second finger) Ttttt (hold up the third finger)

Now ask the child what was the first sound. I will wiggle the first finger & say Kah.

I know it sounds odd but it worked for my daughter. lol

I hope this helps. If you are interested in how we homeschool this is the site we follow:

http://oldfashionededucation.com/

Answer 13

repetition is the key...keep trying flash cards. try to break up the words...

together = to get her

also, have him test YOU on the words . purposely misspell them. then he can correct you, thus helping him remember.

Answer 14

My son is also a 2nd grader and every Monday they have a pre-test for their spelling words.  Then, I really only concentrate on the words my son had trouble with for the Friday test and this seems to help.  Perhaps if you give your son a pre-test each week, you can just concentrate on those specific words he's having difficulty with.

But, not everyone is a great speller.  That doesn't mean he isn't smart.  My friends son has a lot of trouble with spelling, yet he is one of the top students in his class.