Nicole called yesterday afternoon and told me Addie made a 100 on her spelling test. First time ever! Nicole had sent me the new list and I separated them and suggested how Nicole could help her. For instance, the first word on the list was because. I could see how that would be a hard word for Addie. She really does look at the first word on the list, goes down and realizes there are probably 9 out of 10 she does not know how to spell and it seems hopeless.
Other words on the list, and not in this order are ought, bought and thought. I suggested to Nicole that last night they take ought and spell it every time they passed each other in the hallway, put a sticky note by the toilet that says OUGHT, do whatever it takes to learn that word, then stick a “b” in front of it and a “th” in front of it and she knows how to spell ought, bought and thought! Three of the 10 words – done!
Next she had force, forgot and forty. I told Nicole . . she knows how to spell for and she knows how to spell got. That’s forgot. She had choice on yesterday’s test. Take for and add ce on the end, just like the end of choice and she has force. Forty is just for and ty.
That means by the end of the weekend, she knows how to spell six of the ten words. Others are because, record, daughter and observe. She’s just going to have to memorize those four but if they practice and practice, she can do it.
Right now, Addie thinks spelling is fun and that she’s great at it. I hope they keep that momentum going.
Elle says
You are AWESOME for turning spelling around for Addie. And so happy to hear Nicole is seeking the tools needed to continue the success 🙂
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I’ve always believed that so much of learning can be fun and the parts that aren’t . . we just figure out a way to get through it. Also, I believe when there’s something that HAS to be done . . you just do it and get it over with. It’s like changing the sheets on the bed. I do not like doing that. I can get up on sheet changing day and dread it all day,put it off til the last minute, always be watching the clock so I know how much time I have before I run out of time or I can hop out of bed, yank those sheets off, get them washed,dried and back on the bed and feel like a winner . . I tackled a project and I won! 🙂
Susan says
And if she learns these strategies, she can use them on her own after a while. Glad she had your help this weekend.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Yes, just learning to problem solve and think for yourself.
Sheryl says
..Congrats to both you and Addie!
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Thanks. I love it when there’s a light bulb moment and she gets what I’m trying to tell her.
Christine says
I remember when my mom was testing me for the big upcoming third grade spelling bee. I kept failing on the word “autumn.” But my mom kept at me until I knew how to spell it. I was so frustrated, but what word do you think I won the spelling bee on? That’s right – autumn. Thanks mom. ?
Christine says
Oops – I didn’t mean to have a question mark.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Yes, thanks Mom!!
Addie kept having problems spelling choice. I said “You know how to spell ice?” Yes. OK . . CHO-ICE. and then it was the same thing with voice – VO-ICE. She thought that was hilarious but I kept saying . . pick out part of the word you know and then put whatever you have to before and after what you know.
Teachers would probably never teach it that way but I’m about whatever works!
KATIE M PETERSON says
That is how I learned to do math problems, take what I know how to do, divide the problem up and then put the answers back together.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
That’s how I do it. Vince is an engineer and he’s very smart but when I start doing math, my way is so much faster and he thinks I’ve lost my mind when I tell him how I do it.
Sherry Bobak says
My husband has to use the calculator on his phone to figure out how much to tip when we go out to eat. I can do it in my head faster. Irritates him every time.
vivoaks says
Your ways to learn the words are similar to what I used to learn things as I grew up. Even now I tend to make things a game, to see if I can do better each time I do something. Making a game of it is a great way to feel good about learning and having fun at it! 🙂 Whatever works!!! 🙂