Spelling woes, year five

[abraid]

I'm slightly puzzled.

My daughter, now in Year Five, has always done well in spellings, usually in the top group, etc.

She still seems to be doing well in the weekly testsusually gets them all rightbut when they give the random tests (the ones they don't prepare for) she doesn't seem to do nearly as well. Obviously it's easier to do well in the prepared spelling tests and we have lots of practice. She has been moved down several groups and her morale has suffered.

Her maths and English are above average and she's generally bright. She is tired at the moment (lots of music going on) and has been fighting a bug--perhaps this has taken its toll.

How can I help her boost her ability? Any suggestions gratefully received.

There's a list of helpful hints for spelling on this page -scroll down:

www.aowm73.dsl.pipex.com/dyslexics/spelling.htm

DS has spelling problems, he is dyslexic but used to do okay in spelling tests but can't reproduced it in his writing.
They used a programme with him called Stareway to Spelling which helped to bring him up to a 4c in his Sats. However he does have very good comprehension skills so he is in the top band at secondary for english.
Is it just for the spelling tests she is being moved down or is it writing generally?

Thank you both! It's just for spelling tests she's being moved down. Her spelling is reasonable in written work.

Very interesting links. My daughter learned to read very quickly and easily--I think she may be a whole word reader despite the school's emphasis on phonics. This might be why she's less skilled at breaking down the words than are other children who took rather longer to learn to read but did it more phonically (I know because I heard a lot of them read some years back).

Now the chickens are coming home to roost/ slow and steady wins the day, etc.