Writing
Inventive Spelling
First and foremost, DON'T BE ALARMED when your second grader brings home writing with misspelled words. At this point in development, it's important for young writers to feel comfortable with their writing and not be hindered by conventions. Eventually we will worry more about spelling, punctuation, etc. Right now -- we just want them to WRITE, WRITE, WRITE! Students are always encouraged to use inventive spelling to write words that they don't know. The adult simply guides the student in sounding out the desired word, by stretching and exaggerating the word and students write down the letter sounds that they hear.
Writing Words
Assist your child with "sounding out" words
Make the sounds of the word. If a word has 3 sounds, make those three sounds for your child.
If your child has no idea what letter makes the sound (it happens, it's normal) tell him to skip the sound and keep going or write a letter he thinks might make that sound.
Writers are also readers
As your child finishes his or her writing, have her read it back to you as you point to each word together. Reading his or her own writing is a huge step of your child's progress in becoming literate.
Have fun with this process! When you make writing a special and enjoyable time, your child will learn to value him or herself as a writer!
First and foremost, DON'T BE ALARMED when your second grader brings home writing with misspelled words. At this point in development, it's important for young writers to feel comfortable with their writing and not be hindered by conventions. Eventually we will worry more about spelling, punctuation, etc. Right now -- we just want them to WRITE, WRITE, WRITE! Students are always encouraged to use inventive spelling to write words that they don't know. The adult simply guides the student in sounding out the desired word, by stretching and exaggerating the word and students write down the letter sounds that they hear.
Writing Words
Assist your child with "sounding out" words
Make the sounds of the word. If a word has 3 sounds, make those three sounds for your child.
- For example, if your child can only get the initial "b" sound in bat, ask them "Do you hear any other letter sounds in the word bad?" and when you say bat, stretch out each sound
- Allow your child to write what they think the letter(s) are. If your child writes c instead of k, or g instead of j, don't correct him or her. That is perfectly normal at this stage.
If your child has no idea what letter makes the sound (it happens, it's normal) tell him to skip the sound and keep going or write a letter he thinks might make that sound.
Writers are also readers
As your child finishes his or her writing, have her read it back to you as you point to each word together. Reading his or her own writing is a huge step of your child's progress in becoming literate.
Have fun with this process! When you make writing a special and enjoyable time, your child will learn to value him or herself as a writer!