Speaking of school woes.....

[AmazingGrace]

Benji failed spelling.....miserably. We're talking spelling tests in the 50's. I know he's not the greatest speller, but wow, I was floored. So I emailed his teacher, and she wrote back that because Benji is on an IEP, we can give him shoter lists, or easier words or other modifications. Dh thinks we ought to do that, but his not being able to pass spelling has nothing to do with his IEP. The only way we could connect that is his handwriting not being legible.
His ARD meeting is in like two weeks, so what I'm going to do is have him type his words on the computer 2 or three times each. I also got on a word puzzle site and made him a word search and a crossword puzzle. If there's no improvement by the time we meet, I'm thinking of asking that he have the same words, but if his test can maybe be a multiple choice bubble test instead of written. Would I be out of line asking that? I want him to do well, but i don't want so many allowances made for him. I know this sounds bad, but i just want him to be a normal fourth grader. What's the right answer here?

 

[In a hurry]

I don't know the right answer, but I do know that some people just can't spell. I have a niece who is a grad student working for a dual bio/psyc degree. She has tried all of her life to learn to spell, but simply cannot. Her brother couldn't either, but their mom chalked him up to just not putting the effort into it.

I don't think your request is out of line, and I do hope the best for your young man.

 

[JaneH]

It is not unusual for a child w/ bad handwriting to also have trouble spelling. I have a 7th grader who just can't spell. We review the words over and over again to no avail. I didn't realize how hard it was for him until my ds who is 3 years younger could review the words for about 10 min the night before a test and get them all right. But the big difference is - can he verbally give you the correct answer? does he know the words but can't get them onto the paper correctly? is he printing? cursive? definately have it added to his iep and/or a 504 and perhaps ask for some more testing? for my own child I have decided that he will just have to rely on spell check and the dictionary.

 

[ToTLaugher]

Hi

Have you considered oral tests for him? My oldest DD had an easier time with spelling that way when she around that age. Just a thought.

Hope you find what works for him.

 

[N.Bailey]

My son is in the IEP program too. I think it would depend on how severe your child's learning disability is. It certainly can't hurt to talk with the teacher about it though.

When we'd be studying for spelling tests, we'd break them down to so many words a night. I would always have the book at home so I knew the words for the following week too (you could ask for a book to keep at home) so we could get started on the weekend. My son would have to learn like 5 new ones each night, plus remember them from the previous night. The nights leading up to the test then were all review. Once we started doing it that way, he got 100 pretty consistently. The problem with my son though was, he'd learn the word for that week's test, but beyond that, he had no clue how to spell it in his everyday writing. It took years, but I am seeing lots of improvement in this area.

It's really going to depend on the severity of the learning disability though, so what works for us, may or may not work for you. Don't be afraid to call the teacher. For the most part, they all will go out of their way to help you and your child.

Good Luck!

 

[AmazingGrace]

My son is in the IEP program too. I think it would depend on how severe your child's learning disability is. It certainly can't hurt to talk with the teacher about it though.

When we'd be studying for spelling tests, we'd break them down to so many words a night. I would always have the book at home so I knew the words for the following week too (you could ask for a book to keep at home) so we could get started on the weekend. My son would have to learn like 5 new ones each night, plus remember them from the previous night. The nights leading up to the test then were all review. Once we started doing it that way, he got 100 pretty consistently. The problem with my son though was, he'd learn the word for that week's test, but beyond that, he had no clue how to spell it in his everyday writing. It took years, but I am seeing lots of improvement in this area.

It's really going to depend on the severity of the learning disability though, so what works for us, may or may not work for you. Don't be afraid to call the teacher. For the most part, they all will go out of their way to help you and your child.

Good Luck!

You know what?? I liked your response and idea so much that I just emailed his teacher and asked if he can get his list early. He has fifteen words a week, so maybe breaking them down will work. I'll keep you all posted on how it goes.
Thanks!!!!

 

[Talking Hands]

Benji failed spelling.....miserably. We're talking spelling tests in the 50's. I know he's not the greatest speller, but wow, I was floored. So I emailed his teacher, and she wrote back that because Benji is on an IEP, we can give him shoter lists, or easier words or other modifications. Dh thinks we ought to do that, but his not being able to pass spelling has nothing to do with his IEP. The only way we could connect that is his handwriting not being legible.
His ARD meeting is in like two weeks, so what I'm going to do is have him type his words on the computer 2 or three times each. I also got on a word puzzle site and made him a word search and a crossword puzzle. If there's no improvement by the time we meet, I'm thinking of asking that he have the same words, but if his test can maybe be a multiple choice bubble test instead of written. Would I be out of line asking that? I want him to do well, but i don't want so many allowances made for him. I know this sounds bad, but i just want him to be a normal fourth grader. What's the right answer here?

This is a reasonable accommodation and I have seen it used before. Another could be that he is allowed to type the words into the computer as the teacher calls them and then print that and turn it in.
Another study help that I have seen used with both hearing and deaf kids is the have them fingerspell the words. Of course that means he need to learn the manual alphabet but it does help.

 

[jbdreamer]

I don't know the right answer, but I do know that some people just can't spell.

No matter how hard I try, I have always been miserable at spelling. I was good at writing, and often in honnors english classes, I just could never spell. I am now 25, well educated, and still I am the worst speller I know - my 12 year old brother is better. I honestly don't think there is anything I can do to help the situation.

The other day I wrote directions for my DH and wrote verses instead of vears. Sounded right at the time.

 

[N.Bailey]

You know what?? I liked your response and idea so much that I just emailed his teacher and asked if he can get his list early. He has fifteen words a week, so maybe breaking them down will work. I'll keep you all posted on how it goes.
Thanks!!!!

Good Luck. Before they started using the words in the book, the teachers would decide what the words would be. When they did that, they told me they decided what the words were over the weekend so they couldn't tell me in advance what they'd be. I was a little upset and my son's spelling grades weren't that great during that one year.

I hope things are done differently in your area. It really does make a difference when you've got that extra time. My daughter's spelling words (same grade as son as he was held back his 1st year of kindergarten) are:

kindergarten
acceptance
archeologist
extraterrestrial
suite
pasteurize
obsession
circuit
pneumonia
amateur
melancholy

plus 4 others that I can't remember right now. She had these down pat in less than 10 minutes. She's a great speller! If my son had these words, I'd

 

[N.Bailey]

Another thing I'd suggest, play hangman using his spelling words. If he's anything like my son, he'll enjoy playing that with you!

 

[SpecialK]

You may want to try this as well. Write the words in heavy crayon on strips of paper. Have your son trace the letters with his fingers as he says the letters aloud.

If he can spell the words correctly orally, I'd ask for oral tests. The teacher should be able to adapt the test to his learning style.

 

[Poohnatic]

My son is 4th grade, with an IEP, too. We have him type his spelling homework, which is in his IEP. He just returned to a SpEd classroom after a half year of mainstream. His teachers are awesome, they gave him his list and told him he has to write them 1x. However, the handwritten ones aren't graded for him, they just take the ones he does in Wordpad for accuracy.

Another poster mentioned orally, that may work well for him.

Suzanne

 

[Karel]

Benji failed spelling.....miserably. We're talking spelling tests in the 50's. I know he's not the greatest speller, but wow, I was floored. here?

What is he doing incorrectly?

When you ask him to spell the words at home, is he doing it correctly? It's pretty easy to tell if a kid's going to pass or fail a spelling test. Does he spell them correctly orally but when he writes them, the teacher can't read his writing?


I find that with spelling going over and over them nightly works best.

 

[Sparx]

I can't spell. I have never been able to spell very well. I have a very hard time writing words down (hand written) and spelling them correctly. I can usually verbally spell something correctly, but I have a hard time if its written. I was always better at the 'bubble' tests than the written spelling tests. Maybe he's like me, and has a hard time doing that? I don't think you would be out of line in asking. Have him take the test (same words) but have it multiple choice, with bubbles. See if he improves.

 

[ElizK]

My DD10 has an IEP that specifies multiple-choice spelling tests, and she's in her 3rd year of this. She has no problem recognizing the correct spelling, but, no matter how much practice she's had, cannot write the word correctly. She has mild dysgraphia, and her doctor recommended this modification. She was starting to feel pretty beat down over constantly failing these tests that she had studied so hard for. Much better now.

This year her teacher gives her 20 words as multiple choice, and 10 words to write out. The written ones that are correct are extra credit. This works well for us.

 

[golfgal]

My 5th grade teacher held a class called "Teach Mr. James to Spell". That was the spelling class for that year. He took me aside one day and gave me a dictionary inscribed "Because you are going to need it". He said I was the only student he ever had that was a worse speller then he was (thank God for Google toolbar spell check ). I was an honor student all through high school and college. I wouldn't worry about it. Spelling is one of those things that you either can do or can't do. Yes, you can memorize lists weekly and such but it doesn't necessarily stay with you.

If he is ok with doing an easier list, let him. If he wants to do the same list as everyone else, fine, just don't make it a big deal. If he gets one right on his test that he kept getting wrong during practice, praise that and leave the rest alone.