I am torn on whether to start Sugar on spelling in August.
MFW suggest Spelling by Sound and Structure with Adventures in 2nd grade, and I believe that it is a solid, affordable program that gets the job done, but yet again, I can't help but nod fervently when I read about Charlotte Mason's approach to spelling through prepared dictation. She also suggests that children should not begin spelling lessons until later elementary ... 3rd or 4th grade, but I am not neurotic (mostly) and so I am led first by the needs of my child, and then by the philosophy that makes the most sense to our overreaching homeschool goals.
SCM has an incredible discussion board that has been such a gift. I am led to Spelling Wisdom because of its practical and pure Charlotte Mason approach, but also because Sugar is not inclined to the language arts side of school as much as the math and nature. I fear that a spelling workbook will turn her off just enough to discourage her from continuing to blossom with reading. Also, she knows the phonics rules. She has them down. She can sound out the most complex words, but a memory and ability to apply every phonics rule will not produce a fluent reader, necessarily, and that is where I'm at with Sugar. Moving from two years of intensive, systematic phonics to reading for fluency, comprehension, and pace. This is where I think that Charlotte Mason sparkles. Bridging Sugar's phonics knowledge with learning to spell through rules and exceptions, when exception are more frequent than the rule in English, just doesn't settle with me at this moment.
Sparkler has begun reading on her own, more naturally, as we have not instructed her in any true way. I'm realizing that she will be ahead of MFWK in reading, but not in phonics per se, so we will press on with MFWK ... it is NOT to be missed. She will also hone her reading skills, I hope, by reading to Sinclair and helping him to learn English.
Between Sugar needed a nudge toward fluent reading and Sparkler needing a little more instruction than MFWK will provide, I am considering Delightful Reading. Meaning, the girls can work together to both learn to read and make the turn from emergent to fluent reader. To be clear, though, I've discovered with Sugar that learning to read is not one-dimensional, and perhaps blending intensive phonics with CM's method is the best of both worlds, and since we homeschool, we have the unique opportunity to meet each child where he/she is at and teach to their needs and embrace their strengths/weaknesses.
MFW suggest Spelling by Sound and Structure with Adventures in 2nd grade, and I believe that it is a solid, affordable program that gets the job done, but yet again, I can't help but nod fervently when I read about Charlotte Mason's approach to spelling through prepared dictation. She also suggests that children should not begin spelling lessons until later elementary ... 3rd or 4th grade, but I am not neurotic (mostly) and so I am led first by the needs of my child, and then by the philosophy that makes the most sense to our overreaching homeschool goals.
SCM has an incredible discussion board that has been such a gift. I am led to Spelling Wisdom because of its practical and pure Charlotte Mason approach, but also because Sugar is not inclined to the language arts side of school as much as the math and nature. I fear that a spelling workbook will turn her off just enough to discourage her from continuing to blossom with reading. Also, she knows the phonics rules. She has them down. She can sound out the most complex words, but a memory and ability to apply every phonics rule will not produce a fluent reader, necessarily, and that is where I'm at with Sugar. Moving from two years of intensive, systematic phonics to reading for fluency, comprehension, and pace. This is where I think that Charlotte Mason sparkles. Bridging Sugar's phonics knowledge with learning to spell through rules and exceptions, when exception are more frequent than the rule in English, just doesn't settle with me at this moment.
Sparkler has begun reading on her own, more naturally, as we have not instructed her in any true way. I'm realizing that she will be ahead of MFWK in reading, but not in phonics per se, so we will press on with MFWK ... it is NOT to be missed. She will also hone her reading skills, I hope, by reading to Sinclair and helping him to learn English.
Between Sugar needed a nudge toward fluent reading and Sparkler needing a little more instruction than MFWK will provide, I am considering Delightful Reading. Meaning, the girls can work together to both learn to read and make the turn from emergent to fluent reader. To be clear, though, I've discovered with Sugar that learning to read is not one-dimensional, and perhaps blending intensive phonics with CM's method is the best of both worlds, and since we homeschool, we have the unique opportunity to meet each child where he/she is at and teach to their needs and embrace their strengths/weaknesses.
For 2nd grade, then, and Kinder for Sparkler, I am leaning toward Delightful Reading as a supplement to MFWK and as a post-phonics, pre-spelling program for Sugar. In 3rd grade, Sugar and I may then delve into Spelling Wisdom.
I'm curious about All About Spelling and All About Reading (for Sinclair) ... so I might change my mind. I do that sometimes.
Because of Him.
Isn't it so nice that we can be flexible with our little one's educations? I found myself in your situation not too long ago. I loved MFWK but it seemed a little light for where my daughter was in terms of literacy/phonics. We decided to go with Heart of Dakota and we couldn't be happier! It's a CM approach too. They use the dictation approach for Spelling that you mentioned.
ReplyDeleteIt is such a blessing to be happy with being flexible. :) I love HOD ... I tried Beyond but decided it was a little too slow for my daughter and I didn't think that I could stretch Bigger for two years since she's a sponge, and I want to go back to the family cycle with MFW when I have my three olders all reading well. They are both such beautiful programs. We are lucky to have amazing choices, aren't we? I've also come to the realization that I teach better without a detailed guide, but maybe after a couple years "on my own" I'll be clamoring for that MFW TG. haha. I LoVe your blog by the way. You are incredibly talented.
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