Does anyone know of some good methods to help a reluctant 17 year old improve his spelling. He has terrible short term memory and finds the usual methods of learning to spell does not work and has given up. he spells at a grade 6 level. Thanks
Re: Spelling
At his age I would forget it and use whatever accomadations make it easier for him. The computer is a great tool as are Franklin spellers.He probably has plateaud out by now. Good luck.Paula wrote:
>
> Does anyone know of some good methods to help a reluctant 17
> year old improve his spelling. He has terrible short term
> memory and finds the usual methods of learning to spell does
> not work and has given up. he spells at a grade 6 level.
> Thanks
Re: Spelling
Paula, Please do a search on the Teaching Reading Bulletin Board or post over there. MaryMN is very active on that board and highly recommends Sequential Spelling. I believe the website is something like avco.com. She uses it for her daughter who is younger, but nothing I’ve seen on it would suggest it couldn’t be used by a 17 year old. Personally, I think it’s important to spell reasonably well. Those with poor spelling often have problems writing because they end up writing around words they can’t spell, expending a lot of needless effort and making awkward substitutions. Good luck—better spelling is a worthwhile goal.
Paula,
Spelling has always been hard for me as well. I don’t have any methods for you but I can say this. You being supportive to him is the best method. I remember my mom and sister always tried to get me to “sound out” the word so I could learn to spell. Trust me, it just made me mad. It would be more help if you just spell things out for him. I am a college student now and still fight to spell, but I have learn that I always have to have someone “proof read” my papers and I use a laptop alot with a good spell checker :). Check with his school to see if they would be able to “proof read” or do things of that nature.
Good luck!
Wendy (age 21)