Jessica,
Most likely this little boy is struggling with sight words...
especially out of context.... because they have no real meaning or use
for him ... especially out of context. As for memorizing sentence
frames... does he have experience with tractors or boats, or are these
just words with no schema to which they can be attached? If they are
not familiar concepts, then the words will take longer to learn.
Try using "key words" in some way (someone suggested writing his own
sentence on the back of cards with the words on them, to add context),
and language experience, where he draws pictures and dictates sentences
to go with them which an adult can transcribe.
As for spelling tests, I just have to say that I consider them an
antiquated strategy that simply will not go away. Is there anything
more meaningless than a list of unrelated, isolated words out of
context? I don't get that. I know practically everybody does them, but
this is one thing I would drop like a hot potato if I could get away
with it. My two cents.
Good luck!
Renee
On Nov 14, 2011, at 6:00 PM, Jessica Lee Flynn wrote:
I am having trouble helping the little boy I am tutoring with 'sight
words'. They just do not stick with him and I feel like I am tried
many different approaches. Week after week he fails his spelling tests
(he has to be able to identify the word and then spell it) and we work
with those words when I tutor him but they just don't stick with him!
He is great at memorizing a sentence frame (i.e. I like a tractor, I
like a boat, etc.) but when asked to identify tractor, or boat in
isolation or in a different context he has no clue what the word is...
HELP?! I feel like I am running into a brick wall, constantly.
Any input is great appreciated!! :D
Jessica
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