I'm hoping someone has some advice for me. This is my first year homeschooling my 4th grade daughter, and second year with my 6th grade son. I am very concerned about the struggles my daughter has with language arts. She's a good reader and likes to read, but a horrible writer, speller, and even handwriting. She also HATES to write, and struggles even with dictation and copy work. To me, this is her most important subject because no matter what path in life she takes, I feel Language Arts is something she will use, and I want her to use it well. With study, she can pass a spelling test, but a week later when using that word in her writing assignment, she'll spell it wrong. She spells words very phonetically, and doesn't understand the rules around spelling. She fights any writing assignment I give her and just hates to write. Has anyone else had these struggles? I'm strongly considering dialing her back to about 2nd grade, starting with a handwriting program to help her get better at the basics of writing, and slowly building spelling and grammar into it. We are currently using a Houghton Mifflin English book and the Sonlight Language Arts worksheets. Any advice appreciated! Thank you!! Laura
Laura, I think you have the best idea. Dial it back to where it's easy for her, and work your way up. It sounds like handwriting is something that is difficult for her, so start with the basics - pencil grasp and paper position and posture. Take it slowly, and she'll get it. You'll probably do better with a spelling program based on the rules, from the beginning. Just a little very focused practice a day will probably be more useful than long painful sessions!
I agree, it's homeschool, don't force her to 4th grade work because that's what age she is. Build her curriculum to fit her. Many homeschoolers are on grade level for math and a year (or 3) behind in LA-or on grade level for reading but a year behind in writing/spelling and 2 years behind in math. It's okay, there isn't anything wrong with that at all. In elementary math & LA it's important to build upon basic skills. If she doesn't have the basic skills, she'll always struggle. Focus on where she is and start from there. Build those basic skills until she gets them, then move on. She may always be a year or two behind or once she grasps the skills she make make huge strides and progress a year's worth academically in 5 months. Either way, you;ll be doing her a huge favor by working with her where she is to grasp those basic skills she'll build on for the rest of her life. I haven't used it but I have heard lots of moms rave about sequential spelling for problem spellers at any age they suggest starting at the beginning. Many moms also like (& I like) All About Spelling. I like the multi-sensory approach it uses. You might also find http://www.spellingcity.com/ useful to use with whatever program you choose (free and let's her play games and work with what ever spelling list you enter in to reinforce the words so hopeful she doesn't simply memorize them for the test) ETA: I haven't used the curriculum you are using, but those are very traditional approaches aren't they? They might not fit her learning style...
Your story sounds very similar to mine with my own 4th grader! I began HS him last year in 3rd and after some testing, one of the recommended accommodations was to allow him to dictate or type b/c writing was a challenging area. Last year we used Growing with Grammar (he retained *nothing*), we did no dictation (one of his accommodations was to allow him to dictate to us or to type, rather than write, so we focused some attention on typing skills), he HATED to read (dyslexic when it comes to comprehension), and his spelling was, as it was in school, perfect on test day, but he does not have the intuition, nor does he have a lot of the knowledge of our rules. This year for 4th, we use LLATL, but I do not find it meaty enough for him. We just added Winston Grammar, which has been a fun addition this week (yes, even the 4th grader does not mind it, and that is saying a lot, lol!). It is more multisensory and the lessons are short and sweet, with plenty of practice so far. After allowing him to read historical and fun graphic novels and magazines like Boy's Life and Nat Geo for kids last year, he has been reading daily this year without complaint (Boxcar Kids, Wayside School, Horrible Science so far). We just received our All About Spelling, which I am hopeful will also be a great multisensory curriculum to make it more interesting for him and help with his learning. I am about to order a writing program (looking strongly at IEW's Student Writing Intensive Level A). I have also started using Beth Olshanksy's book Picturing Writing to help foster writing through using the primary mode of art. Here is a great blog that has been instrumental in my decision to try this method: http://jujsky.blogspot.com/2012/08/combining-meet-master-picturing-writing.html I firmly believe easing up last year has helped with his confidence and motivation this year! I also feel that knowing his learning style better now has enabled me to choose curricular materials that will motivate him, build his confidence, and still challenge him a bit. Best of luck to you!
You might want to look at IEW for your writing. I really like Sonlight's approach but it does not work well with all kids. With IEW it is a slow build on writing and gives a good solid foundation in writing. Check out SWI-A for her, I know it is expensive but I know a lot of families with reluctant writers use the program with great success. The spelling could just be carelessness. You might want to look at a program like Spelling Power. That program is one that can be used from elementary to high school. They do placement tests and you start out where she is no matter what the grade. It works with the phonetic rules and you can have them write/copy the rule each day if they need it. The program only takes about 15 minutes max a day but I can say I have seen improvement with dd's spelling in the past 5 weeks. Are you using a specific handwriting program, are her issues in manuscript or cursive?
I would recommend the BraveWriter approach to Language Arts. You can google the name and find her site I'm sure. I teach writing at our co op and to my own kids of course. I've never done a spelling program with any of my children and my 8th grader spells wonderfully. I lean towards the organic approach to language arts and it's been a natural growth process for him to this point. His writing gives me chills as his grasp of language is phenomenal and his ability to pour himself out on paper is something even I envy. He has been given a firm foundation in not fearing writing which is important. I would seperate your two issues. Keep penmenship and spelling as well as grammar apart from the writing she generates. When she writes something, have her read it to you when she's done so you can bask in the glow of her creation rather than focus on the mistakes. We all do that. As moms we see the mistakes and often miss the golden nuggets of writing that is right in front of us. Find things to encourage her with her writing. Don't pick anything apart! Let her write freely for many weeks before even thinking of taking her writing to the next level. Praise. Praise. Praise. It's all about building her confidence at this point and you have plenty of time. She's only fourth grade. It doesn't take years to learn formats but it does take years to build her writer's voice so focus on that now. For the mechanics, Winston Grammar is great for grammar. We use that and I plan to do grammar just three times in my children's 12 years of school. There's no point in doing it every year. For handwriting, I would stick with copywork. I know it's not fun but make it really short. Even just one sentence to start but make sure she knows the point is to write neatly. Dictation does wonders for spelling. We have a typing program that will do the dictation for me. As they type, the letters change color if they make a mistake so then they go back and change the letter until they finally get the right one. Hang in there. Your daughter is young so you have plenty of time. I have a 12 year old who I feel could handle any writing project thrown at him no matter the format required and ace the paper. I'm that confident in him. But at the start of 5th grade, I could have pulled every last hair out. I couldn't believe how horrible his writing was when we started that year and I felt like I shouldn't be teaching writing. But I knew down deep I was doing the right thing and boy did it pay off! Kellie
