How to help with spelling - y3

[TeenAndTween]

Hi, I need help to help my daughter's spelling.

DD2, Sept birthday, Y3, has been assessed as 2b in writing.
I believe this is mainly due to atrocious spelling. Handwriting is reasonable, joined up. Reasonable use of language.

Her phonics knowledge when reading is good. Reading 3c.

She is not so keen on independent reading, but can read Horrid Henry & Flat Stanley without problem, when she looks at the words (tends to sometimes just read the first bit and then guess, but can read no problem if you get her to re-read). Loves being read to.

Her speech is behind her peer group (always has been, slow to start and has never caught up), good vocab, but poor pronunciation.

Her spelling, is phonically plausible for simple words (you can usually tell what she was trying to write), but e.g. gentleman was spelled at 'jentm', window 'windo'. My guess is it at about good y1 level.

We have been hoping that spelling would come, but though it has improved in last 6 months, it is still way off.

I would like to do some regular spelling work with her over the summer, eg 10-15 minutes per day, to try to give a boost before entering y4.

So the question (finally), what do you recommend I do? Books from Smiths? Toe by Toe (is that for reading/dyslexics only?). Something going back to phonics basics before rebuilding words?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Apples and Pears is excellent for spellings- but it does take time to get through. The instructions suggest working through a unit in about 15 minutes, my experience was if you have a reluctant bad speller it takes 2 or 3 days of 15 minutes a time to get through a unit. I like the scheme but you won't see quick results over the summer.

I don't know if this will reassure or not, but my DS was an appalling speller in Y3, but this year (he's now in Y4) something suddenly seems to have clicked and his spelling has improved massively. His writing has also gone from a 2b to a 3a this year (bad spelling was holding him back as he could read that what he wrote made no sense so didn't like to read much).

Hi Teen & Tween:

DD1 was also struggling in Year 3. I actually didn't discover these until Year 4 - but these two primary school resources were & are still very helpful:

St. Ambrose Primary spelling page: www.saintambrosebarlow.wigan.sch.uk/spellingpage.htm

You can start from infants (Y1/ Y2) - and once you click - on the right there are various on-line worksheets to help you work through spelling rules. We started with Y3 (in summer before Y4) and have been working our way through.

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Ambleside Primary school Spelling Zone:

Spelling lists & guidance: www.amblesideprimaryschool.co.uk/Learning-Zone/Literacy-Zone/Spelling-Lists-and-Guidance.html

Spelling games: www.amblesideprimaryschool.co.uk/Learning-Zone/Literacy-Zone/Spelling.html

more spelling games: www.amblesideprimaryschool.co.uk/Learning-Zone/Literacy-Zone/Spelling-2.html

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We have also been using workbooks - CGP which starts from Year 3 & onward (available on amazon but also most big newsagents/ book stores). They are full of cartoons and a page or two only takes about 10 minutes. We find doing it once a week for 15 minutes cumulatively makes a lot of difference.

HTH

Thank you both, I will look at your suggestions.