Memory

Spelling actually isn’t so much about memory as it is about getting the knack of how to spell. A child who truly knows how to spell should be able to puzzle out the spelling of many words because they understand or have been taught the spelling rules.

For the math facts, he can drill them. Let him work with what they call manipulatives so he can actually see the results in front of him. 10 Legos take away 5 = 5. Some children can memorize these facts and have them make sense but others need to actually see what’s happening. Use legos or bobby pins or apples or anything real and help him go over his math facts by adding and subtracting real things.

I would provide him with some cognitive training using Audiblox (http://www.audiblox2000.com). The problems with remembering math facts and spelling are typical of delays in development of cognitive skills.

Math Facts the Fun Way (http://www.citycreek.com) is an *excellent* way to teach the basic math facts.

Once the math facts are learned, Quarter Mile Math software (http://www.thequartermile.com) is very good for developing speed and fluency with math facts. If you’re not sure about this program, email the company for a demo disk to try out. We did QMM for 10 minutes a day (with me keyboarding to pack as many problems in as possible) and after 4 months my dd had the math facts down cold. (She had gone through a cognitive training program — in her case, PACE — prior to this.) Too much drill is deadly, so be sure to limit the amount of time spent on it, but do it every day.

For spelling, I highly recommend Sequential Spelling by Avko. There is a sample week of lessons you can try out on the website. This approach works wonders with very little time or effort, and many parents (including me) are very happy with it. Website is http://www.avko.org.

Mary

I just want to put in a second for Avko spelling. I had pretty much decided spelling was just not going to be my 11 year old son’s “thing.” After 4 months with Avko his spelling is dramatically improved—both in spelling tests as well as in actual writing assignments. We call it Breakfast Spelling because we whip off a lesson every day right after breakfast—before he even leaves the table. It is painless.He has also taken a huge leap this year in writing fluency. I don’t know how much Avko contributes to his newfound success, but there clearly is much more confidence about just putting words to paper. For the record, like Mary, my son did PACE prior to the spelling work.