FabSwingers.com forum: Advice regarding spelling..

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Just a little issue i am umming and ahhhhing over really

Im a parent to a keen youngster just started to read and write, at what age do i start to correct the spelling mistakes?

1. She enjoys writing and spelling words out as they sound so would naturally like to encourage her enthusiasm for writing as she practices her letter formations. eg 'SURKUS' should be Circus..

2. When she asks if i have spelt it right, and i say no its spelt like this... am i just gonna shatter her confidence with it?

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By *isscheekychopsWoman
over a year ago

The land of grey peas and bacon

I wouldn't say you will shatter her confidence by correcting her spelling she needs to learn how words are spelt correctly.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I have no idea what age kids start to write etc but ask her teacher/nursery seems a safe bet

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By *eerobCouple
over a year ago

solihull

[Removed by poster at 11/01/15 10:45:56]

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By *igeiaWoman
over a year ago

Bristol

It's a tricky one since English has borrowed from all sorts of languages and quite often the spelling doesn't make sense. You could start down the syllable route in reading words when she's a bit more confident e.g. the 'cir' in circus is the same as circle so you could start listing words that share the same odd spellings.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"I have no idea what age kids start to write etc but ask her teacher/nursery seems a safe bet "

naturally i will tomorrow, just pondering it today and sure others might have had similar experiences. Forums are a wealth of knowledge xx

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Just a little issue i am umming and ahhhhing over really

Im a parent to a keen youngster just started to read and write, at what age do i start to correct the spelling mistakes?

1. She enjoys writing and spelling words out as they sound so would naturally like to encourage her enthusiasm for writing as she practices her letter formations. eg 'SURKUS' should be Circus..

2. When she asks if i have spelt it right, and i say no its spelt like this... am i just gonna shatter her confidence with it? "

Good question.

I haven't got a clue!

What's the school's approach to it?

Maybe do nothing till next parents' meeting with a teacher and then ask the subject teacher?

Just on the off chance that they have an exact and timely plan of teaching phonetic spelling first and then "correct" spelling next?

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By *ee VianteWoman
over a year ago

Somewhere in North Norfolk

I would ask the school too, so you have a consistent approach.

Being told different things at home and at school might well cause issues.

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By *edangel_2013Woman
over a year ago

southend

As she reads more, her spelling will natural develop and improve. But as long as you do it in a way that doesn't belittle her, then correcting her spelling shouldn't shatter her confidence.

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By *rcticFoxxxWoman
over a year ago

Hereabouts

If she learns to spell words incorrectly then she will continue to do so. Wait until she spells a word, and then congratulate her and show her how to spell it properly. Or write the words out correctly and get her to match her phonetically correct words to the correctly spelled words. That way she will learn how to pronounce odd words as well as learn how to spell them properly

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By *eerobCouple
over a year ago

solihull

"Just a little issue i am umming and ahhhhing over really

Im a parent to a keen youngster just started to read and write, at what age do i start to correct the spelling mistakes?

1. She enjoys writing and spelling words out as they sound so would naturally like to encourage her enthusiasm for writing as she practices her letter formations. eg 'SURKUS' should be Circus..

2. When she asks if i have spelt it right, and i say no its spelt like this... am i just gonna shatter her confidence with it? "

If she is asking if its spelt right then you must give her the correct answer i would have tbought. Make it fun to make the corrections and she will love it even more.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'd say it would be best to do it straight away, but you don't have to do it in a negative way. You could tell her how many letters she's got right, but the 'S' in circus is one of those funny letters.

Kids love to learn, but they also love to get things right. When she uses a C instead of an S and you praise her for it her little face will light up!

Lovely questions, by the way.

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By *smCouple
over a year ago

Liskeard

Hi CnS

If she asks if she has spelt it correctly. Answer her honestly but with lots of praise for her effort .

Ie. That's a great effort, but sometimes the s sound is with a c.

Find out what sort of phonics your school is using, are they using jolly phonics, that helps to understand the different word sounds,

I love the. G sound

. G GGGG as the water goes down the plug hole lol

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

No you won't, you'll just encourage her further especially if you make sure that you always reward her effort.

Kids don't mind being corrected if it's in a fun and positive way.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Reading is the key for spelling. When you learn words through speech, the spelling comes second.

When you learn words through reading the spelling is part of it.

Have a look at The Book People website. You can get whole series' of books for kids of all reading ages and interests at seriously massive discounts.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It depends on the nature of the task of the writing if focused on spelling I.e. Homework sentences then help her to correct mistakes, but if it's part of a game or she is writing stories on her own time then don't.

Also, if the mistake is something she should know (like 'and' or how) or she should be able to sound it out (like 'cat') then always get her to correct

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Just a little issue i am umming and ahhhhing over really

Im a parent to a keen youngster just started to read and write, at what age do i start to correct the spelling mistakes?

1. She enjoys writing and spelling words out as they sound so would naturally like to encourage her enthusiasm for writing as she practices her letter formations. eg 'SURKUS' should be Circus..

2. When she asks if i have spelt it right, and i say no its spelt like this... am i just gonna shatter her confidence with it?

If she is asking if its spelt right then you must give her the correct answer i would have tbought. Make it fun to make the corrections and she will love it even more. "

You beat me to it. If she asks then tell her.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Stick to 3 and 4 letter words at first

Words where you swap the first letter work well. E.g. bat, cat, hat, mat etc

Ask nursery teacher as well

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

It depends. If our two were just practicing writing I would correct their spelling if they came to me with a story they had written I would read that and as long as I understood it praise that and leave any spelling mistakes until much later. They both spell very well.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Yep, always praise effort and correct.

So instead of saying "No, it's like this". Say, "Nearly right, very good try! It's like this."

And praise her for spelling like it sounds and commiserate that sometimes words aren't spelled how they sound.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Just a little issue i am umming and ahhhhing over really

Im a parent to a keen youngster just started to read and write, at what age do i start to correct the spelling mistakes?

1. She enjoys writing and spelling words out as they sound so would naturally like to encourage her enthusiasm for writing as she practices her letter formations. eg 'SURKUS' should be Circus..

2. When she asks if i have spelt it right, and i say no its spelt like this... am i just gonna shatter her confidence with it? "

My other half's a teacher and says it's best to correct straightaway, whilst going through the phonetics/syllables of each word

S x

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

wow so many replies already thank you!

At school they teach the 'read write inc' phonics. I have bought personally all the flash cards etc so we go over what they learn in school (as she learnt it in school we would practice at home.. i never went ahead of them)

someone mentioned the 'Book People'.. reading is something i LOVE doing and picture books have been a huge part of our nighttime routine. We are now at the stage of i read her a story and she reads me one back.

The writing she is doing is free and creative. She chooses to do this (i'm far from a pushy mum) Luckily the only homework she gets is her ditties (small constructed sentences that they want us to practice with the children)

She has come on massively since properly learning in Sept when she started school

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By *empting Devil.Woman
over a year ago

Sheffield

Have a conversation about how written English can be funny and that some words have surprising spellings.

Then when you correct her remind her of this so she knows you aren't knocking her down, simply explaining that this word is different.

As she gets older you can teach her how different combinations of letters change the sound of those letters. This is part of the curriculum so there should be support materials available.

Although English is such a bastard language that there are some differences that can only be explained by a scholarly linguistics lecture so some words you simply have to accept are different.

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By *ranny-CrumpetWoman
over a year ago

The Town by The Cross

How old is she ?

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By *evaquitCouple
over a year ago

Catthorpe

Firstly, love the fact their asking if it's spelt correctly, that will definitely serve them well. Don't worry about the spelling right now the fact they're phonetically grasping words is acceptable for a new learner. As a parent get yourself a few books on the stages of phonics, there's six stages If I remember correctly and become familiar with them, they'll explain everything much better than I can put here. Also get yourself a copy of "fast phonics", this maybe available online so Google along with the phonic stages. When your little one gets to year three they'll learn the "rules" of spelling construction which takes over from phonics stage and this is the time when spelling correction will be evident, it's the children with the good phonetical background that tend to do well at this stage. SURKUS phonetically is a good sign that they're hearing the sound of the word correctly and able to demonstrate it too. All good.

Hope that helps a little, feel free to message.

Him

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"How old is she ?"

Just turned 5

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Firstly, love the fact their asking if it's spelt correctly, that will definitely serve them well. Don't worry about the spelling right now the fact they're phonetically grasping words is acceptable for a new learner. As a parent get yourself a few books on the stages of phonics, there's six stages If I remember correctly and become familiar with them, they'll explain everything much better than I can put here. Also get yourself a copy of "fast phonics", this maybe available online so Google along with the phonic stages. When your little one gets to year three they'll learn the "rules" of spelling construction which takes over from phonics stage and this is the time when spelling correction will be evident, it's the children with the good phonetical background that tend to do well at this stage. SURKUS phonetically is a good sign that they're hearing the sound of the word correctly and able to demonstrate it too. All good.

Hope that helps a little, feel free to message.

Him

Im pleased as punch that she shows interest and always encourage her to continue. We have had the Biff,Chip and Kipper series for ages now, Ive a few other Oxford learning tree series of books too that she recieved for Christmas.

She has learnt all the letters individually now and can write them (few mishaps with back to front d's and b's)

now moving onto 'friendly' sounds.. ch, sh, oo etc..

Soup she would spell SOOP

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By *evaquitCouple
over a year ago

Catthorpe

She has learnt all the letters individually now and can write them (few mishaps with back to front d's and b's)

now moving onto 'friendly' sounds.. ch, sh, oo etc..

Soup she would spell SOOP

Sounds like you're both on the right tracks and having lots of fun, all about sounds at this stage. Brings back some good memories, ours is a teenager now and we do get satisfaction that she can express herself with some well written stuff, unfortunately it's not always what we want to read and too graphic at times but at least it's grammatically correct.

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By *ranny-CrumpetWoman
over a year ago

The Town by The Cross

"How old is she ?

Just turned 5 "

The acquisition of language generally follows this path.........

Listening.

Speaking.

Reading.

Writing.

Spelling.

Speak correctly and use a good vocab and your child will too.

Show an interest in writing and your child will too.

Correct only when she asks and never in a way that makes her feel 'second' rate to an adult.

Sometimes say ....... ooooooooo let me look in the dictionary when she asks. Then say ..... you spell it out for me when you find it.

School will advance her at an appropriate rate but if you want to help just speak properly, read with her and don't try to hot house or advance her too soon.

She will be able to say dinosaur or discombobulation long before she should be able to spell it. Why bother spelling them for her ?

It'd be like expecting perfect fairy cakes because she tried to bake.

Don't sweat it... just enjoy it and she won't get turned off.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Depends on her age.. My daughter i soon to be 5 and spelling is as important as them learning sounds and letters and sentence construction. Guessing once thats in place you can start to correct them.

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By *ranny-CrumpetWoman
over a year ago

The Town by The Cross

P.S. Children who listen to adults with poor speaking skills speak in precisely the same way.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I meant isn't

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Children are taught to read and use rules. She is too young to be corrected on every spelling mistake as she hasn't learned the rules. The ones you should correct for now are the ones that don't follow rules. Take the word circus. Why is the first c an ess sound? She won't learn the rules for that for a while. If she uses a word frequently and spells it wrong I would correct,but not every word she hasn't learnt. It's not easy to know when to help.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"P.S. Children who listen to adults with poor speaking skills speak in precisely the same way."

Id like to consider myself articulate, rarely use slang terminology with her. Although she is young i never did 'baby speak'

Im a far better speaker than i am a typer. I've been guilty of using an easier word because i can't spell the one i actually wanted to use

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By *ranny-CrumpetWoman
over a year ago

The Town by The Cross

"P.S. Children who listen to adults with poor speaking skills speak in precisely the same way.

Id like to consider myself articulate, rarely use slang terminology with her. Although she is young i never did 'baby speak'

Im a far better speaker than i am a typer. I've been guilty of using an easier word because i can't spell the one i actually wanted to use

I wasn't referring to you.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"P.S. Children who listen to adults with poor speaking skills speak in precisely the same way.

Id like to consider myself articulate, rarely use slang terminology with her. Although she is young i never did 'baby speak'

Im a far better speaker than i am a typer. I've been guilty of using an easier word because i can't spell the one i actually wanted to use

I wasn't referring to you. "

Thats fine, was just saying

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By *ranny-CrumpetWoman
over a year ago

The Town by The Cross

This does spell correct.

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By *ce WingerMan
over a year ago

P.O. Box DE1 0NQ

Bet she can't spell Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Hope that helps a little, feel free to message.

Him "

It certainly helped me! Very enlightening, thanks!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Sounds like she's keen to learn which is a great starting point. Does she have spelling to learn every week from school ? As she gets older, comprehension is invaluable too. If she's not sure of the meaning of a word, get her to write it down with it's meaning. I think that helps retain the information.

Yesterday I used the word "industrious" and got asked what it meant. Often children can read and spell a word, yet have no idea of what it means in that particular context. That really helps expand both spelling and vocabulary.

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By *ipsTeaserCouple
over a year ago

here and there, thereabouts

"If she learns to spell words incorrectly then she will continue to do so. Wait until she spells a word, and then congratulate her and show her how to spell it properly. Or write the words out correctly and get her to match her phonetically correct words to the correctly spelled words. That way she will learn how to pronounce odd words as well as learn how to spell them properly"

this would be my advice to; explaining that sometimes words are written differently from how we might think/say them.

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By *inaTitzTV/TS
over a year ago

Titz Towers, North Notts

You could say that's one spelling, but grown ups or mummy spells it as circus and let her learn that way

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By *awty MaxWoman
over a year ago

Edinburgh

I would say give her the correct spelling straight away.

In the primary schools here as far as I know, they give the correct spelling, then the child writes the word 3 times, then you hide it and they try to remember.

I would make a game of it. Praise her for the letters she did have right. Say to her how you also found some words tricky when you were her age and that there are words you also still find tricky and am sure her confidence will not be affected.

I had a situation with a 6 years old British girl with the word 'pirate', she got it wrong but we made a game, then I would ask her during the day or next time I saw her... How do you spell pirate? It was a game, a challenge and she was be delighted to get it right.

Explain that there is nothing wrong in getting it wrong, that it is great that she had a try and give her the correct spelling.

Hope this makes sense as am French and that it helps .

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By *B9 QueenWoman
over a year ago

Over the rainbow, under the bridge

Yes you should correct her spelling. These kinds of mistakes can become ingrained and difficult to correct later.

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