How does a Dyslexic parent teach a child to spell?

[NikkiTwinkle]

Sounds like the start of a bad joke, but I'm dyslexic (yes I did have to look up how to spell it!) my DS isn't dyslexic as the school have tested him already. We've just moved up to Junior School into Yr3 and he has weekly spellings. As my husband works longer hours than I do so, I'm left to do all the homework with DS during the week.

We've been given weekly spellings and we're working through them, but I have to refer back to school book to see if he's got them right. The school requires we practice spellings every day.

I've got a degree and I hold down a respectable job, but I'm self taught in terms of coping mechanisms for overcoming the problems I had at school. I received little help when at school and was labelled 'don't bother with her as she'll never amount to anything' (that was written in one of my school reports).

Because I struggle I have no idea how to assist him in learning the different rules for 'ai' 'ay' 'ee' 'ea' all those letter sounds. If I was every taught the rules I've forgotten them so I have no idea how to help him.

Before I talk to the school about it, has anybody else had experience of this or know any good resources for parents to use when trying to teach kids how to spell?

Many thanks

[MrsTittleMouse]

No experience of dyslexia, but the technique that I use is to pronounce the word in my head in the phonetic way. So when I spell library I say "libRAry" to remind me of the middle R or business I say "BUSYness" to remind me of the middle I. Could you do something similar?

By the way, the general rule for ai and ay is that ay is at the end of the word and ai in the middle, so "day" but "rain". It doesn't work for compound words "like payment", but does for almost all simple words. Hope that's helpful and I'm not teaching my grandmother to suck eggs. :)

[turkeyboots]

Watching with interest as am in the same boat.

But DD's school has offered me a session with the teacher to help me understand spelling. Have yet to take up the offer but hoping it will be easier now than when I was little! Might be worth asking?

[fossil971]

I would say don't beat yourself up! Perhaps make a game of it that the child can spell it so well you don't need to help them - don't feel bad about referring to the book. Also have a quiet word with the school and ask them to cut you a bit of slack. I'm sure they'll be happy you care enough even to attempt the homework.

Last night at the tea table DS2 (Yr4) piped up "I got 2 house points for being able to spell cappuccino" - poor DH (also a dyslexic) had his head in his hands!. He feels your pain.