Can I slow/poor speller catch up? And how?

[SheHasAWildHeart]

My bright 6-year is a poor speller. Anytime she does extended writing 80% of the words are spelled incorrectly. If you read them out aloud phonetically they most often make sense. She gets set spelling each week and usually gets 9 or 10 out of ten. But as soon as she has to come back to those words a few weeks later or write full sentences she gets the spelling wrong.

She is having one-to-one time with a TA. I'm using techniques that are more suited to her as a visual rather than auditory learner. She loves arts and crafts so we're going back to basics with the High Frequency Words, getting her to draw them on big white sheets of paper and letting her decorate it all. We did this yesterday and it seemed to work really well.
I don't know the reason behind her spelling except that she was fine at reception and then started a new school in Year 1 who didn't focus on spelling. They didn't set her spellings, didn't believe in correcting mistakes and didn't even do her Phonics Test with her. Thankfully her new school seem more on the ball. (I know three schools in three years but this was for circumstances beyond our control and fingers crossed she'll be staying at this school now!)

I am just worried that she's lost time but also whether she can catch up and be at the level she should be by Year 3? Anyone else had similar experiences with poor spellers who have managed to catch up?

yes they can catch up one of mine has - yr3 and the yr 5 is getting there.

However that is because we've done apple and pears at home most days this is fairly intensive though.

Actually weekly spelling tests - where they are given a list of words then tested are really bad way of learning how to spell - it's the one my DC school uses - as they often don't retain the spellings exactly like your DC is doing.

I do think the not correcting incorrect spellings is a massive problem - and worse for my eldest who has spent years misspelling words and now has to unlearn them. It's certainly improved easiest with my youngest than my eldest.

There are a fair few on-line games focused around spelling which you could google and try for extra fun.

I'd keep doing a bit extra at home - and see what effect that has - but don't despair even at older ages it's possible to catch up with hard work and a good spelling program.

spelfabet might be worth a look at as well - my older DC didn't like it but my youngest 5 did.

Thank you so much, just needed to talk to another parent!

I have now come to the same way of thinking about the spelling tests. Because she was getting full marks I thought that everything was fine so I was shocked when I saw her written comprehension work. Her current teacher also thinks that because her previous teacher didn't correct mistakes she will have to 'unlearn' the bad habits she has got into.

We've downloaded a couple of online games and they're really helping. I've heard lots about the apples & pears programme so will look into that. I think even a bit more extra at home than we used to do will make a big difference. Am getting her to write in full sentences too rather than isolated words from her spelling test.

Thank you for your reply really needed to hear this!

I was primary TA for over twenty years, and have known similar - or worse - cases. We had twin boys come into Year 2 who had NEVER previously read, and eventually we did make progress with them.

It is hardly surprising that all the different schools have left her in a bit of a muddle, poor girl. But at least it is good that her words are phonetically plausible.

This might help as well:

An inexpensive and easy to use book, that can encourage children with reading, spelling and writing, and really help them to understand Phonics, is reviewed in the MN Book Reviews section. Just search ‘Phonics’.