One of the things that frustrated my dd when we tried to use Spelling Power when she was in 2nd grade was that she was guessing too much with the test study test method. And then, she sometimes would guess correctly and then retain the material because I wasn't making her try that "correct" word the next day. She didn't really know how to spell it -- she just randomly got it right.Karen in TN wrote:I ran across the SP section on the Study-Test-Study Approach (pg. 93-94). They suggest a totally different pattern of study for dc ages 8 and under. We definitely fall in that category, and I wondered if anyone else had taught using this other approach. I wondered whether we should try the regular way, or do the STS way suggested. I appreciate any input.
Karen
We then switched over the the study test study approach and it worked better.
Other adaptions that I made to Spelling Power suggestions included having my child re-do all words that she got correct unless I was absolutely sure that she really knew the word. SP suggested only testing words they missed. It worked better also because she could see correct words that she knew. She needed the confidence.
I also broke the categories down a lot more. For example, with the long sound of A there were lots of correct possibilities -- but she couldn't figure out which one was right. So I grouped the words more within SP's categories. We also ended up looking for more rules of why to use which spelling choice.
But yes, go with the study test study alternate plan.
Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 10:20 am
Couldn't you just skip the "test" part and have him use the 10 Step Study for all of the words on the list and then "test" after several days? so instead of 5 minutes of "test" time followed by 5 minutes of "study" time, it would be 10 minutes of study time. And 5 minutes of the activity time with some of the tougher words on the list.
I do it that way with my middle child because she likes having some of the words be very easy each time and it builds her confidence. It really doesn't seem to add much to the day. My 6th grader, on the other hand, wants the smallest list possible to study from and it wouldn't work with her to do it that way. But it's just a thought.
-crystal