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Spelling using phonics (yr 2)

8 replies

whereareyou · 15/07/2013 19:13

Ds really struggles with spelling when writing stories.

He passed his phonics screening last year. We have also done Apple and Pears since last year, although not regularly (his reluctance sometimes and my letting it slide), so we are only on book 2. He is fine in the single word context and appreciates the 'rules' but this doesn't translate into his written work.

When writing a story he basically writes exactly what he hears/ thinks of immediately,which is the nearest to the sounds he thinks he is hearing.

Treasure = Trecher
Climbed =Cliemed
Scared = Skered
Through = Froo
Sailed = Saialld
Couldn't = Cudent

I know he has been learning the alternative spellings for the sounds in phonics lessons , but he isn't applying them.

He has been writing several stories enthusiastically at home(based on lego he builds into a story then draws), then hands it to me to correct his spelling in red pen - he won't correct it himself or let me help whilst he is writing and isn't worried about the words he spells incorrectly.

Whilst I am happy he is writing, he seems to forget everything else in his eagerness to put pencil to paper with his ideas.

He has also become fond of using connectives to start sentences and litters his work with lots of short sentences. I presume this comes from being told at school to use full stops and connectives and somewhere along the way the two have come together.

He is a young August 6 year old boy and tends to lack attention,except when playing with lego which he loves,although this is improving.

If he is enthusiastic about something he has done at school, he comes home wanting to write about it.

I want to help him in the holidays with some short bursts of 'work', say writing about days out, but I am not sure what to do about his spelling.

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BabiesAreLikeBuses · 15/07/2013 19:38

Given his age pick your battles with spelling, eg from those above i'd pick out sailed as it's a regular spelling - he'll have learnt /ai/ and -ed is a regular ending. I'd also re-say through to him as it sounds like he has either misheard or mispronounces the 'th' for 'f'. It's common but he should be able to hear it. I'd leave the likes of couldn't and climbed due to the silent letter and irregular patteen which he'll learn at ks2.

whereareyou · 15/07/2013 20:09

Thankyou.
I've just realised how long my message was, so I appreciate your reply.

Yes, I'll tackle the ones he should know.
He uses words he can't spell such as sor (saw) frequently in his stories.I corrected him yesterday and he wrote sor again today!

Also,jall (jewel) and trecher (treasure) crop up spelt incorrectly,as his stories usually have some danger, a battle and then escape.

Then he gets words such as skeleton,island, fight,metal and giant correct,so I'm not sure what to think!

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mrz · 15/07/2013 20:18

I think you are right in saying he is spelling as he hears words so it would help if you said the words very clearly as they are spelt.

I would correct the words so he doesn't become over familiar with seeing wrong spelling.

If he has been taught the alternatives
cliembed - ask if he knows another way to spell the sound /ie/ ... if he doesn't just tell him in this word we spell the sound /ie/
skered- say clearly as /s/ /c/ /air/ /d/ check he knows alternative spellings for /k/ and /air/
through - clearly say /th/ not /f/ at the beginning and alternative spelling for /oo/
saialld - check he knows that /d/ at the end of a word is often spelt
cudent - show him that the alternative spelling for the sound /u/ is

whereareyou · 15/07/2013 21:33

That really helps me understand.

Thankyou,mrz.

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Ferguson · 16/07/2013 17:55

You are fortunate indeed that he is so keen to write - many children are not! Yes : follow mrz advice, you can't get much better than that. Re: the words he gets correct, he probably reads those words a lot, and just remembers the 'look' of them. Obviously, don't labour the small mistakes, and praise the correct ones (which I'm sure you already do!)

He would probably enjoy, and benefit from, this book : www.amazon.co.uk/Oxford-Phonics-Spelling-Dictionary-Reading/dp/019273413X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373490750&sr=8-1&keywords=Phonics+dictionary#reader_019273413X

Ferguson · 16/07/2013 17:57

(I always forget to tick that wretched little box!)

whereareyou · 16/07/2013 19:58

Thanks for the recommendation- I've ordered it.
I do struggle to help him with phonics as I was a 1970's look and say (Janet and John) taught child.

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