My sister is a Genius teacher who could teach anyone to read or spell. I will ask her for suggestions...
On a personal note: I started out a very horrible speller but loved reading. Eventually I read enough that I spelled by word recognition, not actually sounding things out. I still have to write things down to spell them, but now I am a really good speller.

Gardner is a psychologist who came up with a really interesting theory that people have multiple intelligences. So someone may have a high logical-mathematical intelligence and may be average in musical intelligence. Research is showing that an IQ test is just one way to measure intelligence and it is a very broad spectrum. Gardner's theory is more helpful because it shows that even if someone has an above average IQ, it doesn't mean that there is something wrong with them if they are struggling in a certain area. People tend to be better at certain intelligences than others. That's what makes us unique.

I don't know of any spelling books that could help, but some helpful studying tips are to use mnemonics (I really like mnemonics for studying) and creativity when studying vocab words. Rehearsal is the most common way that children are taught to spell, but often it is ineffective because it doesn't stay in their long term memory. I'l try to think of some more specific study strategies for you and will ask one of my professors who is a guru in child education.

I hope this makes you feel better and promise I will try to get a better answer for you.

: )
Meg, Carter, Ninja, and Hank

Well, I think you have ALL seen emails from me. All I can say is good luck...

hh :)

I'm homeschooling my 5th grade son. We've got textbooks, but for fun he likes to play games at: http://www.funbrain.com/kidscenter.html

They have spelling games your child might enjoy.

In 4th grade my son couldn't spell either. He had done great until he hit 4th grade. He is also very bright. He would know his spelling words one day, and forget them the next. After talking to the reading specialist, teachers, and principal at his school, we had him tested. He is dysleixic and ADD. He is so bright that all of those years he coped and fooled all of us. The scarry part is that I have taught elementary school for almost 20 years. I live with him, and did not catch it. He is a freshman in Plano schools, in honors classes, and with a few adaptations he has straight As.

Most teachers are not trained in dyslexia. They have so much else to deal with, that everything can not be covered. Most people think it is the was.... saw thing, but it has many different aspects. I would talk to someone at the school who is a specialist in reading or if you are lucky dyslexia.

It may be nothing but poor spelling, but that is a red flag for dyslexia. Bright, but can't spell. Enought of my soap box......I just saw what my son went through, and do not ever want it to happen to others.