REDUCING THE PAIN OF SPELLING CLASS

Spelling class has long been one of the most hated classes of all time. Barring those who strive to win a spelling bee, most children struggle with this class and, like me, grow up holding "spelling class" as one of the worst ideas to ever enter the universe. I am firmly convinced that the person who created spell-check will back me up on this.


Memories of writing words....over and over and over and over....leaves me flinching in agony just thinking about the wasted time I was forced to spend hearing, writing, getting it wrong, writing it again....getting it wrong again on the test. Whahhh...


When we began homeschooling, I made a commitment to myself that I would save my children from this horrible fate. :o)

There are a few ways to "do" spelling that will give results and lower resentment.




1. Have a time of reading where you and your child read together. You read, they read..It doesn't have to be a long reading, just a page or two per day in a literature book or some book that the child enjoys. After reading time is over, have the child write a few sentences from that book. (older children can write a paragraph) This helps with handwriting, spelling, word recognition and punctuation.

2. Find spelling games that you and your child can play together...scrabble....the scrabble card game "slam"...etc.. Make spelling fun instead of a chore each day....

3. Find online spelling games that your child can play on their own.

Fun Spelling

Spelling City

Spin and Spell

4. Find worksheets that the child can read and fill out themselves.  Worksheets reinforce reading, analytical thinking and writing.

Spelling Courses (printable curriculum 1st - 7th)

It helps to "Switch-Up" Spelling Time each day...rotating ideas so that Spelling is less about "hearing word, writing word, messing up the word, writing it again" How boring...and....every single day the child "perceives" that he is being punished because he made a mistake on his spelling word...he has to write the missed word over and over as "punishment."

This often creates a daily struggle.  Switching-Up the spelling class each day can be a step toward setting the child up for success and less about focusing on their spelling flaws...which...by the way...can foster low self esteem in the long run for the child.

If we keep spelling fun, interesting and even participate in it with the child, "Spelling Class" can, instead, reinforce the love of language, enhance family bonding and give us a chance to enjoy some time with our children each week in a fun way. Kinda sounds like a no-brainer, huh?  Why didn't my teachers think of that?