We’ve covered eight spelling rules so far. According to my Year-By-Week list, we are a week behind. ?? Not sure how that happened but I don’t think it is a big issue.
My goal for spelling with Sam this year is to promote a greater understanding of spelling rules and where we got them. I do think we are getting there but I cannot really prove it at this point. I need to do a review/test week to see. (something to plan)
I started by having him write the rule from The ABC’s and All Their Tricks
So, I’ve taken to creating a worksheet with the rule already on it and having him choose ten words. He can easily complete this exercise for two rules and he is not so frustrated at the end of the session. As much as I try to avoid spending oodles of time creating worksheets, I think I will continue with this for now.
After choosing the words for that week’s rules, for each word I have him look up syllable breaks, part of speech, definition and origin over multiple sessions. Then he reviews and I give him an oral test.
I need to organize some type of review of the rules covered during a five week period. Perhaps having him match words to the rule. Maybe even going so far as to use words he did not choose since we are going for mastery of the rule. He has an amazing capacity for memorization too.
But then what else? If we have four sessions per week… three sessions of review and the forth would be the test? Rule matching, definition, origin and parts of speech would just about cover three sessions and the fourth would be a combination of those for the test…? Hmmm… something to ponder.