Should we stick with what we know?
February 8, 2013 in Little People
Ughhh…
I hate spelling tests.
Right now I have been sitting at this table with the girl for twenty minutes and she has written 3 words!!!
Spelling tests are the perfect time for her to practice dawdling. She puts her pencil down and stares off into space.
She makes up stories with each of her words in an attempt to prolong the test.
She pretends to cough and sneeze and throw up.
She pretends she has lost her memory and can’t remember the word, or me, or where she is…
What is her motivation, I ask you?! Other then to drive me bonkers.
But I do love spelling… because on every day other than spelling test day, I get at least five minutes of busy work out of her while she is writing her words, independently.
We use the A Beka Spelling 1 book.
(Oh sweet cheese!!! I’m giving the test right now, as I write this. And I just called out the word ‘girl’, to which Graysen says, “Who me?” I say, “Ah! Graysen! No! “girl”. She replies, “What girl? Haha. Just kidding, just kidding. Calm down, mom.”)
She wants to see me crack like an egg, that one.
But anyway, back to curriculum…
So we have been going through this book for the last year, and we are finally about to be done with it! Which means, I have to either fish or cut bait with A Beka. And although I love the Spelling 1 book and feel like it is perfect for teaching rules, I have heard some negative things about the 2nd book.
So, I’m polling you. Homeschool moms out there… what do you use?
Do you like A Beka?? Do you have a suggestion??
Ugh, she just faked passing out on the kitchen table. I have to go-
But let me know! 
I’m not a homeschooling mom; I mean my kids aren’t even school-aged yet, but maybe make her using her words in a story part of the assignment? I used to love writing stories like that. That way, she was to physically spell the word, but she can also verbally use it as vocabulary.
Thanks Caca. I need to start thinking outside of the box… That’s the beauty of home-school, right??
I use Spelling Power with my first grader. It’s meant to start at 3rd grade, but I’m taking it slow. I love it’s simple systematic approach. The child only practices words they don’t know. She takes a short test every day and the words she gets wrong, she has to practice. The whole thing takes 15 min. They strongly recommend u not go beyond that to eliminate frustration. Also, you buy one book for all the way thru 12th grade.
Merideth- thank you! I have never heard of that. I like the thought of only buying 1 book! I think some of her problem is that she gets overwhelmed. And she is also first grade, but on a much higher reading level. Her reading ability has far surpassed her writing ability… I’m definitely interested in checking this out.
Hey Callie! I’m Melinda. I feel like I SHOULD know you because we have so many mutual friends (I think we pulled our moving truck away from RTS a few weeks before yours arrived).
I’ve got a K, 2nd, and 3rd graders. We’ve always used Spelling Workout (each lessons has 4 parts plus one bonus section—so you can get your 5-minutes of busy work in). We also make spelling cards and put them in ABC order each week.
I don’t, however, give spelling tests to little guys (and sometimes not to big guys either). Making up stories with spelling words? That sounds awesome. Writing words independently? Awesome. Tests?
Well . . .
Anyway, here I am (pretty much a complete stranger) saying . . . whatever curriculum you use, I don’t think you have to give painful spelling tests.
Really enjoy your blog via links from Elizabeth Dalton, Kate Almy, Dawn Bouillion, etc.
Blessings!
Melinda
Melinda- It’s so nice to meet you! Unofficially, that is.
It’s always great to hear from mommies with children the same age as mine. I need to let go of the idea that I should be doing ‘traditional’ testing. But I grew up in the private school system…so the ideal dies hard I guess! I keep reminding myself, the goal is not straight A’s, but knowledge! I will have to check out that curriculum as well. Thank you so much for stopping by. And don’t be a stranger…I’d love to keep in touch! 