Dictation?

[MichelleL in Tn]

Those that do dictation with your children, how do you handle the corrections?

I was just in a seminar and we have started timed writing assignments once a week. I set the timer for 3 minutes and the children write about whatever they want. These papers are not edited, corrected, etc. The children are only encouraged to try to get their thoughts in their heads onto paper.

She said after 8 weeks of doing this, to let the children pick the writing they like best. (This is the one that they will go on to edit, add to, revise and make a final draft.)

So I would like to do dictation, but coming behind my children and just telling them they wrote it wrong seems like it would be counterproductive to my
wanting them to write.

Anyone have any insight into this?

[Jana in SoCal]

Those that do dictation with your children, how do you handle the corrections?

I was just in a seminar and we have started timed writing assignments once a week. I set the timer for 3 minutes and the children write about whatever they want. These papers are not edited, corrected, etc. The children are only encouraged to try to get their thoughts in their heads onto paper.

She said after 8 weeks of doing this, to let the children pick the writing they like best. (This is the one that they will go on to edit, add to, revise and make a final draft.)

So I would like to do dictation, but coming behind my children and just telling them they wrote it wrong seems like it would be counterproductive to my
wanting them to write.

Anyone have any insight into this?

I dictate a passage multiple times and once they can *hold* the dictation in their mind, they begin to write. I sit with them and correct them as soon as they begin to make a mistake. Also, during dictation, they can ask me how to spell anything (it's not a spelling test) so I'm correcting either the actual words they are putting down, or punctuation.

HTH.

[Heather W]

Well I thought dictation was the dumbest thing ever because of that reason Michelle. I figured what good is this doing?

First of all, it works! My oldest took right off with it and his writing definitely improved. I have fallen away from it with my dd although we do a lot of other things.

Whatever writing they do, whether it's dictation or something else, I go through and edit the piece. I circle misspelled words and anything else. Then I give them an assignment based on my editing.

Usually, they have to correct the misspelled words. Many times my dd can identify how to correctly spell it when she goes back to look at it. Sometimes she has to pull out the spelling dictionary.

I go over other items of note as well and give questions about a homonym set (if a word was misused) and things like that. If she doesn't capitalize a proper noun I might ask what a proper noun is and ask her to give a couple examples then I have her find the one in what she wrote.

I do see improvement through consistency.

Dictation is not the only format we use for writing so I don't generally have issues with the counterproductiveness.

I look for new ways for my dd to practice all the time. My oldest would write forever if I let him.

We've been spending a lot of time jumping rope and she loves poetry. We have all kinds of jump rope rhymes out from the library right now (though I have not found good directions for double dutch which must be rectified). R also loves poetry and my mil is working on publishing her work in an anthology! So, today her writing assignment is to create a jumprope rhyme of her own complete, of course, with the proper cadence.

Should be fun!

[Nicole in MD]

The following is information from amblesideonline.org. It is from their FAQ section. Charlotte Mason differs from Ruth Beechick and others because she promoted "studied dictation."

Just thought I would through this out there for your consideration. Which may or may not be helpful. If you're like me...information overload will shut you down.:roflol:

Nicole in MD



Dictation
Dictation, which reinforces spelling, is when the child writes something as the parent dictates. This is not for testing purposes - the child should be familiar with the passage or sentence being written. You can let them "study" for it first so that he knows how to spell the words. He might close his eyes and try to picture the passage accurately. He might practice words he's unsure about spelling. Only when he feels he is ready does the dictation exercise begin. This makes it more likely that the child will spell words correctly the first time. Some children are natural spellers and seem to effortlessly absorb spelling from their copywork and reading. For other children, dictation can help polish spelling skills because the child will have to memorize how to spell the word before the dictation exercise begins. The parent then reads the passage slowly and clearly while the child writes it from memory. Some parents use dictation as a way to test their child's spelling, using misspelled words as a spelling list. But caution should be used because once a child sees or writes a word incorrectly, that incorrect spelling is recorded in his memory. (Sand, rice, cornmeal, salt or shaving cream, which allows misspelled words to be wiped out immediately, is a fun way to practice writing for young children.)

A child does not start dictation until he has mastered handwriting from copywork experience. His first dictation exercise may be a single sentence. By 10 or 11 years of age, he might be able to do a few sentences. Older children might do a paragraph or two once a week.

By 10 to 12 years of age, some children, especially those who don't learn visually or are dyslexic, will still be having trouble spelling and need extra help. Programs that Ambleside members have used with success are Mary Pecci's Super Speller and DesignAStudy's Natural Speller. Sequential Spelling or the book "Seeing Stars" by Nanci Bell may be helpful for dyslexics. Spelling Workout, although popular and effective with some list members, does not follow CM's philosophy. Spelling Power is also used with success by some list members, but none of the Advisory members have seen it to assess its compatibilty with Charlotte Mason's methods.

[MichelleL in Tn]

Thanks for the info everyone. What I did this time, was to dictate a passage from The Boxcar children (for my son age 10). It was one sentence with quotes.

After I dictated it, I showed him the sentence and had him re-write it correctly underneath the dictated sentence. So he could see the difference.

I think I will keep it pretty casual once or twice a week. (Since we do other grammar and spelling instruction.)

I do like the idea of having my younger child copy the sentence, look it over and then later try to write it from dictation.

[Kendall in GA]

I watch my dc write and make/suggest corrections as they go. (Prior to beginning, I have my student recite the dictated passage to ensure that he knows it.) The theory is that it is best to avoid having a student "see" incorrect grammar/spelling, i.e. You want to avoid reinforcing bad habits/errors.