Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Twice Exceptional Sight Words and Dyslexia?

Pemberley, does your dd learn well from audio info? There's an online spelling program that was recommended for my youngest dd (she has an associative memory challenge that makes it tough for her to remember visual connections and she retains information much better if it's learned via audio input). I don't know if it would help, but I'll look up the link to it and post it for you.

I also know so well how you feel in wishing you had someone to help with a clear roadmap for your dd - fwiw, I think that you are that someone! You're doing a tremendous job of seeking answers and solutions and really doing everything you can to understand your dd's challenges - and you're doing a great job of coordinating the various information and experts so that you can come up with a plan. Hang in there!!!

polarbear

knute, fwiw, what you've written describes my dh *exactly* - right down to the degree in mechanical engineering! He is also very successful in his chosen field, and I spell-check for him frequently.

polarbear

Pemberly - I don't remember - how old is your kiddo? If she isn't too far past it, have you considered putting her through the Wilson Reading Program? It breaks things down in a logical way that helped my son a lot with the logic of spelling ... at least for the words in the English language that follow logic.

As I said in my first post, I wouldn't put hours into practice. It seems the older they get, the more that is absorbed and retained, so driving them crazy when they're young doesn't seem all that productive when there are other things that need addressed that could use that time to better use.

My husband is in his 40's, has had two successful exits from companies he co-founded and is now on his third startup. He still asks about spelling and relies a lot on spell check. It has in no way hampered his success. He's developed business plans, had to communicate with venture capitalists and angel investors and is very good at communicating.

Thank you, Captain Obvious.

There's no "being past" Wilson. DD10 is starting Wilson this year, with a reading level exceeding the K-10 reading test she did. She's starting from the beginning.

For my DD, and I was making the assumption that it was similar for Pemberly's DD, was that these sight words and spelling are on top of the intervention curriculum. In our case, we've got Wilson reading to work on the underlying spelling difficulties, but at the same time, DD is doing the regular spelling curriculum. In her case, getting a list of words that follow a few spelling rules is useful. She still can't spell the base words (that's where Wilson will help), but learning the rules is still constructive.

polarbear, I think the point that you might have missed, is that handwriting, spelling, and mental calculations are all frequently lumped together as skills no longer needed in the modern age of computers, spell check, and calculators. Each family needs to set forward their goals and priorities. In our case, DH still has the condolence cards that were handwritten to him after his dad died. The emails he got are out there somewhere in the digital ether, but they certainly aren't on his bedside table. Looking at our daughter's strengths and weaknesses, being able to write a short card is an important goal we hold for her.