After trying several spelling programs with my dyslexic daughter, I decided to write my own that catered to the way she learns. My daughter needs a lot more repetition than any other spelling program was giving her.
Here is a Top 5 list to help you know if your spelling program is working for your child.
1. No tears. If the idea of spelling brings legitimate tears to your child's eyes, it might be time to shop around for something else. (Note: I did not say manipulative tears. My son is the master at crying when he would rather do something else.)
2. Your child can finish a spelling lesson in lesson than 30 minutes a day. If your child takes more than this, it may be time to switch.
3. Your child is consistently getting As and Bs on spelling tests. Way to go! However, if your child is struggling to master the spelling of words, you might want to try something else.
4. Your child is spelling words correctly in his or her writing. If your child can remember how to spell a previously studied spelling word naturally in another context, you have a good speller. If your child can spell for the test, but cannot remember to spell the word correctly in a different context, he or she has not actually mastered the spelling of that word.
5. If your child is confident in their writing, you may have a good spelling program for that child. However, if your child is hesitant to write because of spelling errors, you might want to find a different program. My daughter was so embarrassed by the way she spelled words that she sometimes did not want to write at all.
If you said no to 2 or more of the Top 5 list, you might be interested in some of the Issues that Weak Spellers Face Every Day.
If your child is struggling to become a confident and accurate speller, please shop around for a spelling program that works. If your child has to use the spelling program adopted by the school, consider tutoring your child in how to spell outside of the classroom.
There are some great spelling programs on the market. I love Spell to Write and Read and All About Spelling. They both teach spelling rules and phonograms. If your child needs more embedded practice for mastery consider the program I wrote for my daughter: Automatic Spelling. It comes with video lessons and more practice and review than any program I have seen.
