Trouble with spellings

[RobEmily]

Hello, my year 3 daughter (just turned 8) is really struggling with spelling. We think she could be dyslexic and are getting a test done, but I am looking for ways to support her with spelling as it is really knocking her confidence at school.

School does regular spelling tests but these are not words they send home to be practiced - they’ve never done that - they are just meant to know how to write the words using their phonics and tricky word knowledge but she can’t do that and regularly gets zero on the tests.

we tried revising 5-10 words a week at home and doing a test at the end, she would get them all right but not retain the spellings in her writing.

I have bought the Apple & Pears book and we have just finished book one. At first it helped but the last two sections were a real struggle for her. She has been getting very frustrated and it’s not helping her confidence anymore.

I’m loathed to go back over the sections as she is so disheartened by it and I don’t want to hurt her confidence more by her feeling like she “failed” them even though she just needs the learning reinforced again.

We have access to some apps through school but they don’t help much and I would prefer non app based / online learning.

Is there anything else we can try?

thank you

I’d tread v carefully. Mine always did badly on spelling tests but really the most important thing for life is everyday spellings, not the specific test words. Mine are adults now but still get some words wrong (both dyslexic) but it’s just one of those things. I just think you have to remember dyslexia is a disability and for other disabilities we wouldn’t expect them to be able to manage as if they don’t have a disability!

Thanks @bestbefore for sharing your experience.

Are you suggesting just ignore it and not try to help her with it at all?

Read with her, a lot. Read her books for kids older than her to expand her vocabulary.

Hi. No but just don’t stress about it. It’s really hard not to. Def read with and to her & def help her and speak to the teachers. We had to remind each year teacher about the dyslexia-we’ve had reports stating about poor spelling etc & it’s just one of those things

Thanks @KnickerlessParsons We read her 2 chapters of a book or 2 picture books every night and have done so her entire life. She also reads us a chapter of a phonics book so I feel we’re doing what we can there. But it doesn’t seem to make a difference to selling.

@bestbefore thanks - we have had meetings outside of parents evening to put this on her teacher’s radar and they are supportive, but because my daughter is otherwise “secure” in her learning for everything else SENCO won’t put any specific interventions in place or give us guidance other than access to an app.

Are they any things that helped your two improve with spelling? I don’t want to stress us all out wasting time on things that don’t help, but equally she needs a bit more support so I’m looking for some ideas. Thanks

Get her tested, maybe in a year or so.
We paid for a report and it’s been accepted for the whole school and uni life and given them some of the support they need
Mine benefitted hugely when doing GCSEs using you tube etc and actually there’s probably loads of stuff on there now for younger ones. Sometimes hearing it out loud or hearing someone else explain how to learn the “rules”
of Spag might help?