Please help me to help DD with her spelling

[Yorkshirepudding]

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In the case of the circum... words you mentioned I would first of all point out that the endings are like in fence and France (if she can spell these words). The next thing to do is to write the words down and put a red box around the tricky parts - in these cases "ence" and "ance" - that nakes them stand out and when she looks at them she knows that these are the tricky parts she has to remember. you could try making lists of all the words ending in "ence" and "ance" that she can remember.

Another thing you can do with very difficult words is mnemonics - when each letter stands for a word in a memorable phrase. Eg, "BECAUSE" - Big Elephants Can Always Understand Sums Easily - , but you cant really do that with every word obviously!

OR, sometimes you can sing the letters of a word to fit a tune she knows well.

Sorry FoxinSocks, didnt see your post and think I have repeated you in a rather long winded way!

Does she read much?

She sounds like she needs more visual cues. How is her visual memory? The auditory link doesn't seem to be working for her

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SHe sounds as though she is an auditory learner - hence the reliance on 'sounds' for spelling, not able to visualise well, etc.....

Give me a moment

ITs good that she gets so engrossed while writing a story and that isnt the time to correct spellings. As she gets older she will learn more about re-drafting , and thats the time to correct spellings - you don't want to stop the creative flow!

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YP.

If she is an auditory learner, saying the letters out loud will help her.

If she is visual, pictures, diagrams, different coloured pens, repeatedly writing the words will help (guess which I am)

If she is tactile/kinaesthetic, you need rice and play dough

MOst people who do well at school are a mix of all three with one slightly preferred style.

Many children who are bright but do badly at school are kinaesthetic as the traditional school setting does not cater well for this.....

Most schools are trying to redress the balance

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GIve me a shout when you have done that - there is lots you can do whatever your style

(As a teacher ) what's the point of learning Autopsy??
I am totally against keeping children in - I told dd 2 that if she was kept in she was not to stay but go to the office and ask them to call me. There are so many levels that this kind of "punishment" is wrong on. I decided to take dd out of a school with such a naff reactive regime. Best thing I ever did - she flourished afterwards and ended up in the most amazing class of children I've ever seen. Nearly 70% passed 11 plus .... without being kept in!!