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Am I reading that right? Are those people just logic-challenged or what? This is like the Singapore vs. the US story.

I, too, have been disappointed with my son's spelling instruction at the school. I can't get anyone to explain the logistics behind it (of course it's all a part of this new curriculum), so I just started collecting up all of his written work at the end of the week and compiling a spelling list from his missed words (which were plentiful.) I not only had him do the standard write it several times and use it in a sentence, but I also had him orally spell it out just like he was in his own little spelling bee. Of course, the school doesn't do that due to his fragile self- esteem and all. It is very interesting to take a child who is quite confident writing a word out for you and then watch him pause to spell it aloud. Their eyes seem to go looking inside their head for it. Like some other part of the brain has to be activated or something.

After I'm through subjecting the kid to all of this unholistic torture, I'm positive he'll need a special bank account for future therapy sessions. Well, at least he'll be able to spell.

-- SusanS - 14 Jun 2005

Well, you're in luck, because it just so happens I have Thoroughly Researched the subject of spelling (OK, not as thoroughly as the Mapleton Teacher-Research Group researched spelling, I admit).

And I came up with THE perfect spelling curriculum, for school or home use:

Megawords

There are 8 books altogether, with Book 1 starting in 4th grade.

You should probably start with Book 1 no matter what age your child is, because each book builds on the earlier books.

The authors spent years teaching kids with learning disabilities, and they know their stuff.

-- CatherineJohnson - 14 Jun 2005

Susan--I just wrote up our experiences with Megawords at MoreSpelling.

-- CatherineJohnson - 14 Jun 2005

"Great Kids Spelling". That's what our lowest grades called it. My son got that on his attempts at writing - with no corrections. They also didn't even teach him how to hold a pencil correctly. They start the kids writing in a journal in Kindergarten. (drawing pictures plus a word here or there) Wall words. This is Whole Language applied to spelling. Why do they all have this hangup about not directly teaching kids anything? Actually, my son has an amazing memory and would be the poster child for wall words. However, I prefer that he learns phonics, spelling rules, syllables, root words, grammar rules, and punctuation rules. Has anyone read "Eats, Shoots, and Leaves"? It's a great book on punctuation.

I will look at Megawords. I would also be interested in finding any web site(s) that might be comparable to KTM for English Language Arts. I will have to brush up a little to be able to teach my son how to parse sentences. I can't imagine they do that anymore.

-- SteveH - 15 Jun 2005

Steve,

My son had that invented spelling stuff in the early grades also. Lots of "journaling" too. They didn't want to impede his creative juices by letting him know he was spelling or creating any of the letters wrong. He became an expert at such sentences as, "I like to play," and "I had fun."

I was concerned enough that I looked up various homschooling ways of teaching early writing skills. One of the books suggested having your child copy sentences (as we all did back in the day), out of quality children's books. I used a lot of E.B. White (Trumpet of the Swan is a fave,) along with Harry Potter and many of the other more recent books out there. It gives them more practice and exposure to how sentences can be put together. It also takes the pressure off having to create an expressive thought and then having to write it down. Taking just one aspect of it seemed to help and he actually enjoyed it. I did roughly a sentence a day. I wrote it out myself very neatly on first grade lined paper and had them copy. Very old school but both kids improved greatly over the year.

Which brings me to another complaint. What happened to lined paper? Over and over again the kids were expected to pick up handwriting skills through osmosis and then to write them on white paper whether it was a test or worksheet. Drove me nuts.

-- SusanS - 15 Jun 2005

They do a lot of journaling, with few or no expectations, comments, or corrections. The comments in my son's 3rd grade journal are things like: "It sounds like you had fun at Harry's birthday party." Not: "You need to explain a little more here because I don't understand what you are saying."

Their reading is progressing far beyond their writing skills. When asked to do a book report for a 100 page book (not often enough), they provide maybe 10 lines (actual lined paper!) to write the report. It can be longer, but it's a struggle. Basically, the school says; "Just do it." It is very difficult to write a 10 line book report on a 100 page book. (My son is catching on by looking at the back cover.) To do a longer book report is a struggle. They just don't have the practice with expository writing. Does anyone else see this domination of "creative" writing over expository writing?

-- SteveH - 15 Jun 2005

Yup, we did mondo-journaling.

I love the idea of having the kids copy a sentence from good children's literature.

This reminds me of the classic way of training artists (in the 19th century?), which was to have them copy the Masters.

-- CatherineJohnson - 15 Jun 2005