Dear Teachers Q & A
By Peggy Gisler and Marge Eberts
How to Help a Poor Speller
Question: My second grader just doesn’t do well on spelling tests. He has never been a good speller, and he is only a fair reader. What are some things that can be done to improve his spelling? – Poor Speller
Answer: Some people think that the spelling of English words is crazy and unpredictable and use that as an excuse for children’s being poor spellers. They are wrong. The spelling of about 50 percent of all English words is based on sound-letter correspondence, and another close to 40 percent are almost predictable except for one sound. Admittedly, this leaves the spelling of about 10 percent of all words to be memorized (sight words).
When children first begin to spell words, they do not yet have down pat the sounds of individual letters. So they use just a few letters to spell a word. This early spelling common with 5- and 6-year-old children is called inventive spelling. However, encouraging students to use this way of spelling beyond the beginning of first grade is not considered a good approach to learning to spell.
Children learn to spell first by understanding that words are made up separate speech sounds and that these sounds are represented by letters. Then they move onto noticing patterns in words they spell (cat, bat, mat). The next step is learning about syllables, prefixes, suffixes, word endings and basic spelling rules. Poor spellers are often poor readers, as they have not mastered the connection between letters and sounds.
You should be able to help your child become a better speller and at the same time a better reader because the two require many of the same skills. A chat with his teacher is needed to pinpoint exactly what is holding him back from being a better speller. The teacher can give your child a diagnostic spelling test that will let you both see what consonant and vowel sounds and word spellings he needs to know. If the teacher suspects that the problem is dyslexia, more specialized help will be needed.
Once you know where your child needs help, begin to teach him a few consonant letters that he cannot yet sound out. The teacher can provide you with worksheets, or you can find worksheets and workbooks online and in stores with these sounds to use with him. Once he has mastered these sounds, work with him on predictably spelled words that use these sounds and other ones he knows. Hopefully, you will be able to use some words on the weekly spelling list. Move slowly, only teaching new consonants when earlier ones have been mastered. Once all the consonants have been mastered, move on to working with syllables and then a few basic spelling rules. At this point he should be a much-improved speller. While teaching the consonant sounds, introduce a few sight words. He can trace them and then write them to learn these often difficult-to-spell words.
Handling Frustration with Homework
Question: At times, my seventh grader totally loses her cool when frustrated with a difficult homework assignment. Telling her to calm down just doesn’t work. What should I do? – Frustrated, Too
Answer: Trying to calm a child when she is in the middle of a meltdown does not work. She is just too worked up to listen. She should walk away from working on the assignment to calm herself. When the child begins to calm down, you can be empathetic expressing that you know how frustrated she must feel and also offer to help. Or hopefully, once the child is over the meltdown, she may just tackle what has frustrated her on her own.
To avoid future homework assignment meltdowns, you need to sit down with your child and show her techniques for learning a difficult assignment. The first thing to have her do is to consult her textbook (this works best for math and English) to examine work similar to what she is being asked to do. Studying class notes is another way to find examples of the work that she is attempting to do. At times, she can find online help by searching for similar work. There are tutorials on a wide range of subjects, so she should be fairly specific in her search.
If the above approaches do not work, you could do some teaching so she understands the assignment. You should never do the work for her. If you are unable to help her, have her move on to work she can do. The next day when the homework is discussed, she should get the answers she needs. Or she can request special help from the teacher.
Should meltdowns continue to occur on a regular basis, consult her teacher to see what special help your daughter may need to handle her homework.
Create a Homework Station
To help your child focus and succeed with homework, consider creating a homework station either in their room or somewhere around the house. Have them help put together the workspace so they have a sense of pride and ownership. Here are some ideas to help you get started:
- Choose a quiet location. Find a place where your child can work without interruption or interference. It doesn’t have to be a bedroom, or even a desk or table. Just a spot that is comfortable and quiet.
- Get supplies. Make a list of items your child frequently uses when doing his homework. Supply the station with crayons, pencils, markers, scissors, glue, tape, erasers, a calculator, note cards, paper, notebooks, etc. Make sure that the supplies stay in the area so that your child doesn’t need to go looking for supplies each day.
- Set the routine. Does your child do better with completing homework right after school? Or does she need a break? Discuss with your child the best time to complete homework and then make it a part of the daily routine.
- Make it a pleasing spot. Books, a table, a lamp and a comfy chair will all help to make it a welcoming environment that your child looks forward to visiting every day.
Parents should send questions and comments to DearTeacher@DearTeacher.com and to learn more about helping their children succeed in school visit the DearTeacher website.
©Compass Syndicate Corporation, 2021
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