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I have a healthy enthusiastic 8 yr old, 3rd grader with who like many has weekly spelling tests. She has homework Mon-Thurs related to the spelling words (worksheets) and the test is on Friday, in addition we make flash cards for the words and I give her a practice spelling test with 1/2 the words on Wed and 1/2 the words on Thursday. She knows the words, she recites them to me in the car by memory. Then on the test, she spells several wrong. She's not failing or anything but there are special rewards etc for doing well on the test in school and she feels bad when she doesn't get them. Is there a better way to study the words? Now get this, she one time spelled a word incorrectly on the test but then on the backside of the paper when they wrote out dictated sentences and the spelling word was used again, she spelled it correctly. Go figure! What's your trick?
If she is spelling them all correctly before the test, I'd say that the problem is either carelessness or nerves during the test. It sounds like you have the studying part down, maybe try to figure out how to handle the test.
Does she spell them right OUT LOUD and then get them wrong on paper? That might be something to discuss with the teacher, since it could be a learning difference.
I have a healthy enthusiastic 8 yr old, 3rd grader with who like many has weekly spelling tests. She has homework Mon-Thurs related to the spelling words (worksheets) and the test is on Friday, in addition we make flash cards for the words and I give her a practice spelling test with 1/2 the words on Wed and 1/2 the words on Thursday. She knows the words, she recites them to me in the car by memory. Then on the test, she spells several wrong. She's not failing or anything but there are special rewards etc for doing well on the test in school and she feels bad when she doesn't get them. Is there a better way to study the words? Now get this, she one time spelled a word incorrectly on the test but then on the backside of the paper when they wrote out dictated sentences and the spelling word was used again, she spelled it correctly. Go figure! What's your trick?
Pam S.
Simple test anxiety. Very normal at this grade level.
On Thurs nights, give her a sample test of all the words. Since the test is not broken up into two days, maybe do the same on your end. Ask her the way the test is given in school & simulated it that way.
The part I put in bold face was a great thing you picked up! She DOES know how to spell the words correctly...she is either going too fast/overconfident or getting nervous/making silly mistakes.
Also, remind her to check her words before she turns in her test. Tell her to take a deep breath, close her eyes for a few seconds, and then check her work before handing it in.
The tests like spelling can be a double edged sword b/c it's rote memorization yet they have to know how to spell. So, every week she has the challenge of memorizing new words & getting them right for a test. So, by Fri & test time, she probably just wants to get it over with, hand in her test, & get the reward for the hard work. She may be more concerned about the fun reward at the end & thus losing concentration.
If it continues, maybe talk to the teacher to get her on board to make sure your daughter has the proper tools to take a test. She knows the words, she is just for some reason not following through at the end.
Good luck! You are doing an awesome job as is your daughter!
Try having her write the words out for practice every night. it worked with my sister. I think it was easier for her on the day of the test because she had written the words so many times before.
Simple test anxiety. Very normal at this grade level.
On Thurs nights, give her a sample test of all the words. Since the test is not broken up into two days, maybe do the same on your end. Ask her the way the test is given in school & simulated it that way.
The part I put in bold face was a great thing you picked up! She DOES know how to spell the words correctly...she is either going too fast/overconfident or getting nervous/making silly mistakes.
Also, remind her to check her words before she turns in her test. Tell her to take a deep breath, close her eyes for a few seconds, and then check her work before handing it in.
The tests like spelling can be a double edged sword b/c it's rote memorization yet they have to know how to spell. So, every week she has the challenge of memorizing new words & getting them right for a test. So, by Fri & test time, she probably just wants to get it over with, hand in her test, & get the reward for the hard work. She may be more concerned about the fun reward at the end & thus losing concentration.
If it continues, maybe talk to the teacher to get her on board to make sure your daughter has the proper tools to take a test. She knows the words, she is just for some reason not following through at the end.
Good luck! You are doing an awesome job as is your daughter!
This is good advice. Both for these reasons, and the reasons given by the original poster, are why we don't give weekly spelling tests at our school. We did away with them years ago when our school-wide spelling plan was adopted.
Oral spelling and written spelling are two different skills. My dyslexic son has a 2 year grade difference between oral and written spelling. His oral spelling is the higher grade level. Spelling is very tough for dyslexic kids.
Location: In my own little corner... sittin' in Jax FL
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My girls' 3rd grade teacher doesn't do spelling tests the way I am used to seeing them done. Usually the teacher says the word out loud and the children write them down.
Instead she has them scrambled for them to unscramble. This can get tricky because you have many words whose letters can make another word! LOL She has started putting the other 'word' on the test as the scrambled letters. This works for some students and not for others. However, it does put a spin on the rote memorization. You have to actually apply the words to a situation.
Not to hijack your thread here.. but the new FL curriculum that our school uses is horrible. We are in our 6th week of school now ( I think ). The 3rd grade spelling words are a Unit 1 review this week.
last drum mix save sock left smell note thick huge smile grade
I am no trying to hijack the thread either just so glad my 2nd grader is not the only one. We do sentences, flash cards, mock spelling tests. He actually has 15 words, 10 of them are actual spelling words and the other 5 are challenge words, it is the challenge words he has the most difficulty with. It can get really frustrating for me.
My dyslexic kids always had their best success with using the "sail" method (the words end up looking like sails). Say the word is game, you have her practice it like this:
g
ga
gam
game
Do that a couple of times and they pretty much get it as good as they can!
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