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Erin
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Has anyone found a particular spelling program/method that has worked well with teenagers. I'm afraid my three oldest, 16, 15 and 13 are not the strong spellers I would like and need help. Has anyone done remedial spelling with the much older child with success?
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Erin
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Angel
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I picked up the text The Spell of Words based on a recommendation from one of your other threads, Erin, but I don't know if you were going to try it or not?
I'm using it with both my 13 yo ds and my 11 yo dd (who is a better speller than my ds, but hasn't had much formal spelling instruction). It's the only book I've found that really lays out spelling rules in a logical fashion and isn't condescending to older learners (because it's designed for older learners.)
I can't give you a final verdict on how much it's helped, because my ds has just finished up the first 3 lessons and we're taking a break. But he *seems* to be doing well with it. (Don't get me wrong; spell check is still going to be his best friend, but his spelling is getting *better*.)
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Angela
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Erin
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Angela
I remember that thread and I bought the other book recommended, ABCs and all their tricks. But I think I more need a lesson format to do a remedial crash course. Had another re-look at Spell of Words, did you buy the student and teacher's books?
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hylabrook1
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We've found Spelling Power to be helpful. Probably we weren't using it as the instructions suggested, but it helped because the words are grouped by which spelling makes which sound. Also, we emphasized looking at words one syllable at a time. Long words are not mysterious; they are just made up of syllables and you can learn to spell each syllable. By breaking things down like this, spelling seemed more manageable. We used the placement tests in the book to decide where to start. Each day we dictated 1/3 to 1/2 of the words on the list we were using. If 3 words were missed before we got through the portion of the list we were working on, we stopped there. Each missed word was then written 3 times. At the end of the week we re-dictated the words missed on the previous days of the week, along with others from previous weeks that had not been spelled correctly. Sometimes progress seemed slow, but finally we conquered! Not that the child we used this with is a fantastic speller as the result, but definitely much more competent.
Peace,
Nancy
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ALmom
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We used Writing Road to Reading (it goes from basic to adult or college) but again - doing it our own way. I had another book that described how to use it and that has placement tests - don't know if that is sold anymore or not. Without that, it would be a real pain to use this program.
First, we do a placement test at the beginning of the year. Then we do review phonograms - as needed and do some of the charts as needed. I basically cut out phonograms from the sample of cards in the back of my book and laminated them. The children can quiz themselves on these. Charts - we simply made a copy and filled it in. We did not make the notebook that she describes - too tedious for the benefit. I did have them keep their charts from year to year so we do not re-make them every year, but we do add to them particularly if there is a word that they misspell that fits on these charts.
If my children had some tendencies that were easily addressed by some of the charts/rules we did them and continued to add to them. We skipped the ones for things they clearly already knew. We did not belabor either the phonograms nor the charts unless it was an area of weakness. I dictated words, they syllabicated and marked the words - (we did not go nutty over marking, if they forgot, we'd simply talk about it and mark it).
When we got to the point that my teen (we were dealing with severe spelling things with an almost high schooler and early highschooler) was spelling significantly better, we began to keep a running list of misspelled words from his written work (I would look at his notebook in science, his answers to questions in workbooks as well as his essays, etc.) and use these for his spelling list when we had collected about 20 words. We would dissect these words in the Writing Road way, study them and then test. Then we'd go back to Writing Road until we had a collection of 20 words again.
The final, final verdict isn't in yet, but this child's spelling is very improved and he improved noticably the first year we did Writing Road. We were seriously behind.
Janet
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Angel
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Erin wrote:
Angela
I remember that thread and I bought the other book recommended, ABCs and all their tricks. But I think I more need a lesson format to do a remedial crash course. Had another re-look at Spell of Words, did you buy the student and teacher's books? |
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I did. But I haven't really used the teacher's book very much. My ds has really been working through on his own. I don't have him do the composition exercises. I give him a spelling test at the end of each lesson to assess how well he's gotten the rule.
I decided to go with Spell of Words because I needed something he could work on independently of me this year. I had not been able to get started on All About Spelling (which I think he would have found a bit babyish anyway) or Phonetic Zoo so I had to come to the conclusion that "imperfect" was better than nothing at all. Spell of Words fit the bill, and it was cheap. 
So, basically -- I doubt if this is the "perfect" approach but for us, it's the "good enough" approach.
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Angela
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I'd also recommend Spelling Power. They can each start at their own level, and work through at their own pace. The more they get right, the further they progress, and they don't spend any time studying words they already know how to spell - only the ones they don't know. Great for multi-level work at all ages, including adults.
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Erin
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Angel wrote:
I did. But I haven't really used the teacher's book very much. My ds has really been working through on his own. I don't have him do the composition exercises. I give him a spelling test at the end of each lesson to assess how well he's gotten the rule. |
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Now you have me intrigued, what else is in the book?
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Belle
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I've been noticing a backslide my older two's spelling of late also.
We're going with a spelling bee approach. (Not so much against each other, more against themselves....but, they just can't seem to help but compete!)
We pick a list based on words they are encountering in their school work. I really like throwing in words from their Math and Science work. (The math text books my kids use have a small unit in each chapter on Math literacy, as sometimes it really is a whole other language)
Then every Friday night we have a spell off. It's a lot of fun. We end up laughing an awful lot. We haven't been doing it long enough for me to say whether it's really working or not, but it has at least made spelling fun....well, we'll wait and say how long it takes for the novelty to wear off!
Otherwise I may have to look into some of these spelling books/programs.
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Erin
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Angel wrote:
I picked up the text The Spell of Words based on a recommendation from one of your other threads, Erin, but I don't know if you were going to try it or not?
I'm using it with both my 13 yo ds and my 11 yo dd (who is a better speller than my ds, but hasn't had much formal spelling instruction). It's the only book I've found that really lays out spelling rules in a logical fashion and isn't condescending to older learners (because it's designed for older learners.)
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Angela
Just wondering if G has got back to using this? I have to make a decision soon and am debating between Spell of Words and Spelling Wisdom. So hard to make decisions at time.
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Erin
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Hi Erin,
My eldest is only 12 so this might not be the type of reply you're looking for. DS12 is a rather poor speller. We are using The phonetic Zoo which is def. helping. I like it b/c it requires very little imput from me, but is definitely a solid programme.
If I had more time and energy I would go back to Spell to Read and Write.
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Tricia
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Erin
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Our Spell of Words has finally arrived Dd16 has had a quick look and already informed me it explains rules to her understanding really well, it's going to be great if she gets it at long last
I'll give more feedback when we've used it more, thanks Angela 
Oh and I did also download Spelling Wisdom and am loving it and seeing a definite improvement, I raved about it here
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Erin
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Erin
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Just wanted to update and share, you can turn your teens spelling around  We've been using All About Spelling for nearly a year now and our two oldest boys 17 & 15 have made MASSIVE improvements They would now get 95% or more of words correct
I suspect some of it is due to ABS itself, but some of it is also the fact that they are then consciously thinking about spelling.
So for anyone else out there pulling out their hair there is hope 
Now if only I could find a solution to their handwriting, remedial handwriting for teens...
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stacykay
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  Thank you for updating, Erin! I am so thrilled to hear about your great results! You give me hope for my spelling-phobic ds!!!
In Christ,
Stacy in MI
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Kristie 4
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Did you start at the beginning Erin?
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Kristie in Canada
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Erin
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Stacy
So wanted to give you hope keep up the fight
Kristie
I did. Initially I taught five of them together as a class, and moved very quickly, then as the younger children found it harder I split my 'class' into two for so I could continue at a faster pace for the older ones. I've made it all the way up to level 4 and I'm ready to 'graduate' the older 2 boys, 17 and 15 (actually I 'graduated' ds17 a couple of months back and I'm planning on concentrating on ds13 who needs me to slow down. Currently dd11 wants a break and as she is a good speller I will let her potter with some spelling workbooks. (a new try for us). Using AAS with older children I adapted it a bit.
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Kristie 4
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Thanks Erin- it is yet another spelling program I have on my shelf. Spelling is just so boring compared with all those great books and math!
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Kristie in Canada
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Revisiting this thread for my rising 7th grader...
His spelling tests scores have plummeted and we've always known he struggles with spelling.
What I'd like to know is if anyone has found any ONLINE spelling programs that are helpful?
I'd love to find something to just plug him into over this summer. Computer based learning is much more appealing to him than another workbork... I don't employ it for many things but thought it might be a great medium to address his spelling issues.
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Erica Sanchez
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We've used the online program, Spelling City, in the past.
Erin, I ordered All About Spelling Vol. 1 with the exact intention of using it for all of my kids this summer, a crash course of sorts (like I also want to do for history!). Even my college age daughter is excited, so I am glad it worked so well for you.
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Topic: Remedial Spelling for Teenagers
