Whats the best way to teach a 4th grader spelling?

Question

Im tutoring a 4th grader, and I want to know the best ways to help her with spelling. That is her weak point. Are there any websites where I can find free spelling printouts to have her practice on?

HELP!!!

Answer 1

Hi!

The first thing you need to know is what she DOES know how to spell. I would suggest working with the Fry list of Sight words. These are the most important words to know, because we use them the most! Here is an quote from Quiz-Tree.com.  

"Reading is one of the most critical skills taught at school. It is virtually impossible for a person to live a productive life in our society without being functionally literate. Children with reading difficulties will undoubtedly have trouble mastering nearly all school subjects even if they are motivated to study. Conversely, children who learn to read in the early grades acquire one of the most basic skills needed to continue their education and be fully-functional as adults.

In many schools students are expected to be able to read simple material by the end of the second grade. One of the most important goals in teaching young students to read is making sure they are completely proficient with Sight Words.

Sight Words (sometimes called the Dolch Word List) are some of the most frequently used words in the English language. Even though they number only about 200, Sight Words comprise approximately 50 to 70 percent of any given general, non-technical text. Therefore, teaching Sight Words as early as possible is considered a crucial part of elementary education. " http://www.quiz-tree.com/Sight-Words_mai...

Here is a link for the Fry lists in PDF files so you can download them.

http://candohelperpage.com/sightvocab_1....

I noticed that you asked for printouts. I hope you reconsider because it is easier for people to learn words through active word work (a variety of tasks using spelling words, language skills, and word patterns, word sorts) instead of worksheets.

Another idea is to have her play some learning games on sites like these: http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/...

Check out this book! It is at a 4th grade level, but the authors have other levels depending on how much catching up she needs to do!

Making Words Fourth Grade: 50 Hands-On Lessons for Teaching Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots by Patricia M. Cunningham, Dorothy P. Hall

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Maki...

Good luck! :)

Gwen

Answer 2

try making a crossword puzzle or word search to help her learn words that she read and mabey doesnt understand.

Answer 3

No offense, but if you don't KNOW.. why are you tutoring?

(much less having a name spelled -- c -- with just One Letter?)

P.S. -- "when in doubt, sound it out"

Answer 4

when i was small they used to teach how to spell with "look , cover, write, check..."

Answer 5

Beat it into them. That's the most effective way.

Answer 6

I truly believe that one of the best ways to become a good speller is to be exposed to a lot of books, poetry, etc.. My son is only 4 and I read to him all the time.  He already knows how to spell a couple of words.

Answer 7

ask the 4 grader what  do you want to spell.

Answer 8

Ok when I was in fourth grade, heavens know how long ago that was, what always helped me was to make a spelling pyramid, for example business-

B

Bu

Bus

Busi

Busin

Busine

Busines

Business

Then do that like ten times, and then it is completely in your brain.