How to teach spelling???

[Harlequin]

For Chinese, the square words are made up from 部首 (the key or radical by which a character is arranged)

人，木，心，日，月, 口，手 etc…

The traditional way of learning Chinese is to learn all these 部首 first. They are usually on the left side of a Chinese square word, but also can be formed on top or bottom of the right side, or in the middle.

To learn Chinese in a easier and fun way is to teach the kids all the 部首 first, those are the base "words’… Unfortunately, nowadays we learn Chinese by the "phonic", that’s the Han-Yi-pin-yin way… so the kids must know how to pronounce the Chinese word first, before they can even use a dictionary. To me, it’s 本末倒置。

I sincerely think that all kids should start with learning the 部首. There is no point to memorize the 笔划 of the word itself, until one knows how and why it is formed.

If parents are keen, please get a 部首编排法 booklet for your children’s leisure learning, explain to them how the way it works, and the Chinese’s 象形文字 formation is interesting to the children, e.g., how the 月 looks like the word itself etc.

When all the 部首 is learned, the child will have no problem handling 听写 by herself. No need the hard memorizing about where is the 点，横， 竖，钩, or missing a stroke here and there…

Sigh.

[melodyrain2]

This is what I need! Thanks Harlequin!

[durianlove1974]

Harlequin:

For Chinese, the square words are made up from 部首 (the key or radical by which a character is arranged)

人，木，心，日，月, 口，手 etc...

The traditional way of learning Chinese is to learn all these 部首 first. They are usually on the left side of a Chinese square word, but also can be formed on top or bottom of the right side, or in the middle.

To learn Chinese in a easier and fun way is to teach the kids all the 部首 first, those are the base \"words'... Unfortunately, nowadays we learn Chinese by the \"phonic\", that's the Han-Yi-pin-yin way... so the kids must know how to pronounce the Chinese word first, before they can even use a dictionary. To me, it's 本末倒置。

I sincerely think that all kids should start with learning the 部首. There is no point to memorize the 笔划 of the word itself, until one knows how and why it is formed.

If parents are keen, please get a 部首编排法 booklet for your children's leisure learning, explain to them how the way it works, and the Chinese's 象形文字 formation is interesting to the children, e.g., how the 月 looks like the word itself etc.

When all the 部首 is learned, the child will have no problem handling 听写 by herself. No need the hard memorizing about where is the 点，横， 竖，钩, or missing a stroke here and there...

Sigh.

I am thinking of teaching my children the 部首.

But is it necessary to memorise the name of the 部首?

For example, 钅is pronounced as jin. I am afraid my child might get confuse with the actual word 金. Any suggestion?

[sembgal]

When pressed for time, I just get my child to copy out the words using pencil. It works for my child in this way. I draw columns in exercise books, get the child to copy the word. After writing a few times, get the child to cover up the word and write out the word. If the child forgets how to write, refer to the word again until the child commits the word to memory.


If I have time to spare, I will use magnetic letters from Leapfrog to teach English Spelling.

If I have sand (too bad I don’t), I will get the child to use a stick to trace out the word.

[Lazy snake]

For teaching Chinese is better-you can teach stroke by stroke and say the hanyupinyin and keep practicing

[sxbbrynx]

sembgal:

When pressed for time, I just get my child to copy out the words using pencil. It works for my child in this way. I draw columns in exercise books, get the child to copy the word. After writing a few times, get the child to cover up the word and write out the word. If the child forgets how to write, refer to the word again until the child commits the word to memory.


If I have time to spare, I will use magnetic letters from Leapfrog to teach English Spelling.

If I have sand (too bad I don't), I will get the child to use a stick to trace out the word.

Wow those ideas are really good :boogie: Especially if we use like 3D materials(sand,magnets) then some children learn better :D:D

[magiccastle]

My experience is once the child masters phonic , english spelling n reading is a breeze. They are able to encode unseen words easily . I don’t have to ask them to learn spelling. They are able to spell out the word like 'incomprehensible ’ without even learning . The key is to master phonic .

[lovinglife]

magiccastle:

My experience is once the child masters phonic , english spelling n reading is a breeze. They are able to encode unseen words easily . I don't have to ask them to learn spelling. They are able to spell out the word like 'incomprehensible ' without even learning . The key is to master phonic .

I fully agreed. Mastering phonics skill will help the child spells and reads with ease. All we have to do is go through the spelling list, sound the words out segment by segment in phonetic way, even unknown words are easy to tackle. Once the child able to spell out the whole word, you can just move on to next word. It probably only take you 2 days to practise, each time less than 15 mins, depends on how many new words that the child is not known.

For Chinese, learn the hard way. Stroke by stroke, get it right, right from the beginning. I do not allowed, neither his Chinese teacher allowed my DS to write incorrect sequent of strokes. Break the word from 部首，teach portion by portion. That way, the child only need to remember the non 部首 portion.

[Blue Pearl]

interesting ideas

[keepkidsreading]

You first of all need to work out where your child is ‘up to’. What is it your child needs work on? Short vowels? Blends and digraphs? Long vowels? etc. When you have worked that out, give your child a spelling list with words of that ‘feature’.


For example if your child needs work with long vowels, you may choose to begin with ‘long a’. His/her spelling list might include words like rain, chain, mane, obey, stray, play, etc.

Focus on one ‘feature’ at a time. I find word sorts work really well. Cut each word out and have your child sort it to the correct heading. For example ‘chain’ would go under the heading ‘ai’, whereas ‘mane’ would go under the ‘a_e’ heading.