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Practicing Spelling With An Older Learner {includes a weekly lesson plan recap}

It can be difficult to find ways to practice spelling with an older learner because most programs are designed for young children. In this week’s lesson plan recap, I include an in-depth discussion of how we approach spelling with my teenage son’s learning differences.

Last week, I shared a quick snapshot of some of the ways we are naturally practicing reading and spelling in our homeschool.

Many of you reacted to this list:

  • Texting back and forth
  • Sending funny memes to him that require reading
  • Reading Aloud (him to me, using an old familiar book)
  • Writing Poetry and Song Lyrics
  • And yes, a little bit of formal learning through our online curriculum choices

Some of you wanted more information. More of you were concerned that this approach would not be enough to help my son become a functional speller as an adult.

spelling for an older learner

The In’s and Out’s of Practicing Spelling With An Older Learner

For many of you, this seemed like “taking the easy way out” (yes, that is a direct quote). I can understand why.

Perhaps you, like I, grew up learning to spell with the standard school approach – a list of 10 to 20 words at the beginning of the week, followed by daily repetition (usually writing based) culminating in a spelling test on Friday.

It worked for me. Why wouldn’t I include it as part of my son’s spelling practice?

The simple answer is that it just isn’t effective. He needs a more experiential, reality based use of spelling in order for it to stick. A typical approach might work for the week, but then would quickly be forgotten when it comes time to actually use the spelling word in real life.

spelling and the older learner

How Can I Help My Older Child With Spelling?

Although I do use spelling lists to help me stay on track with learning the most-used, most-needed words (see resource list below), most of how we actually practice spelling is much more reality based.

For example, when my son is typing out his latest poem, he absolutely has access to spell-check and uses it with total freedom. Why? Because spell check is something I expect will be around to help him as a functional adult. It is an accommodation to be sure, but one that is much more mainstream and accessible than ever before.

Because of this, we also almost never practice spelling with actual handwriting. I have found that there are too many competing brain functions in play for it to truly be effective. He has to hold the pencil, think about his grip, the force he uses on the page, the way the letters are formed and then, finally, if he is spelling the word correctly.

It’s too much to achieve my goal – helping him effectively spell.

Removing the handwriting element means that he can focus on the words themselves and how to spell them. That’s it.

And for us, it works.

spelling and the older learner

Resources For Helping Your Older Child With Spelling

In addition to using text messages and typing as a primary form of spelling practice, I have created a few spelling lists and used a workbook resource to help ensure that we are on track in our spelling practice.

I also LOVE this book of the 1000 words we use the most in written language and highly recommend it as a resource (aff. link included). It has 90% of the words we use most, all in easy to digest lists.

I choose a word from one of these lists and ask him to text me using it in a sentence. Then we repeat.

Is it enough?

Well, that remains to be seen. The good news is, I see progress and he is engaged in continuing to improve his spelling skills. For now, that feels like a victory.

Weekly Lesson Plan vs. Reality #33 (includes spelling practice)

Monday

THE PLAN

  • Physical Therapy – 2 hours
  • YouTube Video or Google Search About A Preferred Topic
  • Blood Plasma Infusion – 4 hours

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED

Tuesday

THE PLAN

  • Audiobook and Discussion
  • Social Time with friends at school – 1 hour
  • Art class – 1 hour
  • Voice class – 1 hour

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED

  • Audiobook and Discussion – Banned Books
  • Social Time with friends at school – 1 hour
  • Art class – 1 hour
  • Voice class – 1 hour

Wednesday

THE PLAN

  • Physical Therapy – 2 hours
  • CTCMath
  • Spelling Practice
  • Map Study – South America
  • Logic Puzzle

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED

Thursday

THE PLAN

  • Audiobook and Discussion
  • Social Time with friends at school – 1 hour
  • Art class – 1 hour
  • Rock Climbing Class – 2 hours

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED

  • Audiobook and Discussion
  • Social Time with friends at school – 1 hour
  • Guitar class – 1 hour (we were able to add a new class on Thursdays for this semester!)
  • Rock Climbing Class – 2 hours

Friday

THE PLAN

  • Rock Climbing
  • Current Events Discussion
  • Chemistry online
  • Audiobook and discussion

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED

  • Rock Climbing
  • Current Events Discussion
  • World History online (with BrainPop videos and games)
  • Audiobook and discussion

Our Homeschool Lesson Plans For This Week

Lesson Plans
Monday1. Physical Therapy – 2 hours
2. YouTube Video or Google Search About A Preferred Topic
3. Blood Plasma Infusion – 4 hours
Tuesday1. Audiobook and Discussion
2. Social Time with friends at school – 1 hour
3. Art class – 1 hour
4. Voice class – 1 hour
Wednesday 1. Physical Therapy – 2 hours
2. CTCMath
3. Spelling Practice
4. Chemistry Online
5. Poetry Read Aloud
Thursday1. Audiobook and Discussion in car
2. Social Time with friends at school – 1 hour
3. Guitar Class – 1 hour
4. Rock Climbing Class – 2 hours
Friday1. MapWork – South America
2. Rock Climbing
3. Current Events Discussion
4. Audiobook and discussion
5. Creative Writing – Poetry
Reference Note: Every Monday, my son has subcutaneous immunoglobin infusions. This means we typically keep learning to a minimum for the day.
Reference Note: My son attends classes on both Tuesday and Thursday at a specialized private school. This is for elective classes like art and music, as well as social skills.

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    Additional Resources For Strength-Based And Interest-Led Homeschooling

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    These resources are a great place to start!

    end of homeschool year

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