Having homeschooled 7 children, I eventually figured out that either kids come as “natural spellers” or they don’t. And if they don’t, you have to teach them to spell.
Emily, Louisa and Ammon at the Old Hundred Gold Mine in Silverton, Colorado
No wonder English is so difficult to learn!
We must polish the Polish furniture.
He could lead if he would get the lead out.
The farm used to produce produce.
My 3 youngest: Louisa, Ammon and Emily
Spelling correctly is just as important as doing your hair!
How’s that?
Well, it makes quite a first impression, whether on a job application or in a love letter.
My daughter Louisa (15)
English is a beautiful language! It is the language of the Kings James Version of the Bible. It is the language of Shakespeare. Then, why—oh, why can’t we spell?
Over the years of teaching my 7 children to write, I wonder if perhaps I have seen nearly every misspelling known to man. Tomorrow, friends, though, a lot . . . these common words can be quite challenging. I don’t claim to any system of success, but I do know that giving kids a memory clue can help a great deal! Here are just a few of the clues I have discovered that help my kids spell better:
The word “separate” has “a rat” in it. Remember this spelling tip and you’ll always spell it correctly!
I am a product of the public schools of the 1960’s. I was taught the spelling ditty: “i” before “e” but not after “c”, and a host of other rules. Spelling rules seem to be made for the logical, perhaps, mathematical minds (not mine), but I am a good speller. How does that work?
One day when Louisa was nearly 3 years old, I told her to shut the door and she answered, “In a minute!”. I wanted her to learn cheerful and prompt obedience. I tried to explain that to her, and I made sure she shut the door, but I wondered if she really understood that “in […]
