Spelling, I am convinced, is like musical talent. Some people are just born with it. Most, though not gifted, can learn to spell fairly well with some effort. For some spelling is just impossible, like a person who is tone deaf.
I would say I fall into the middle category thanks to the modern spell checker. Without it…I am in big trouble! Writing consistently and correcting my spelling mistakes has helped, but there are still words I get wrong every single day. Definanlty–see? I’ll try again–definatly. Nope that’s not it. Oh for crying out loud “definitely” (thank you spell check) is one example. “Exercise” is another word that I get wrong every time. Come on everyone knows there SHOULD be a z in there some where!
I was a church secretary for a while. It was my least favorite job ever. I was hired five days before the pastor. Isn’t that crazy? Why didn’t they let the new pastor hire his own secretary? Though he was kind to me, I always felt like he was somewhat frustrated with me. He didn’t like my writing style for the bulletin, did not appreciate my sense of humor, and the one time I asked him some question about how I was doing (I can’t remember exactly what) he replied, “Well, you can’t even spell!” Ha ha! I think we were both relieved when my oldest was born and I took on my new job as stay at home mom.
My most recent chuckle over my spelling problems came when I was updating my Facebook employment status. I wrote, “Part time blogger, full time wife, mom, and home edu (insert help from Google here) educator.” Ahem!
I’m linked with Hip Homeschool Hop and Women Living Well.
THough I”m a good speller I always have issues with “definitely” and “exercise” too! 🙂
I used to be a great speller until I started using computers so much and now because of spell check I’m not as good any more.
I’m a pretty good speller. My natural propensity has always leaned more towards spelling/writing/reading. Math, now? Ugh. Terrible. 🙂
I’ve always been a pretty decent speller myself, but with auto-correct these days, i really can botch up some words in a fast hurry!! 😀 cute post.
Thank goodness for spell check! I didn’t become a really good speller until I was a teacher for many years. Learning all about teaching spelling really helped my own spelling!
My daughter has a form of dyslexia where she can read perfectly well, but she cannot spell. I can barely read anything she writes and she is in fourth grade. This is one of the more difficult ones to diagnose correctly. A lot of people have it and don’t know, because they just got by in school. Keep this in mind if your children have a very difficult time with spelling and writing.
For some reason, I think I was born able to spell. I’ve never had trouble with words. Now math? We won’t talk about that. I always wondered why I couldn’t be good in both. Why can I write “supercalifragilisticexpialidosus” and not be able to figure out how to balance my checkbook? Tiz a puzzle.
I never could spell “definitely” correct… I went into the hospital with a ‘birth plan’ that had the statement “my husband defiantly wants to cut the cord”…. (yes, he DEFIES anyone who won’t let him!) the only way i learned to spell definitely is to remember that the word “finite” is in the middle. Exercise? bah! if i dont even have time to do it, why should i learn to spell it?! 😉
I haven’t taught spelling to my kids yet, and their spelling isn’t too bad, for never having had spelling!
You are right, Esther. Studies have shown that spelling is an ability, not a universal one, and also that there is no connection between spelling ability and intelligence! I can remember fighting a battle at my oldest son’s high school over spelling on a geography test taken in class, with no access to a dictionary. My son drew beautiful maps and wrote excellent answers but misspelled a number of words. I fought and WON that battle. 🙂
I actually am one of the good spellers, but there are some words that I struggle with every single time. One in particular. I started to leave this comment yesterday, but I couldn’t come up with the word to save my life. I remembered it this morning. Occasion or occasionally. (And I even spelled it wrong just now.) I can never remember if it has 2 c’s or 2 s’s. I always try to come up with tricks to remind myself, but I never remember the tricks the next time around.
Thanks for browsing my site and for selecting my post as your favorite. I am honored. I’ve gotten worse at spelling as I’ve aged. I guess I was originally a good speller. Anyhow, it is very nice to live in these modern days with spell check to help us out. And I use google quite a bit myself.
I think the ability to find humor in just about anything and everything is far greater and more useful than the ability to spell well. 🙂
Visiting from Hip Hop Homeschool. Er, Hip Homeschool Hop.
LOVE your humor. Always on the lookout for funny homeschool bloggers!
Great post.
Becky
I am a naturally good speller, but a couple of my children can’t spell to save their lives. It is a constant struggle for them. Sigh. Thank goodness most of the kids are really good at it. I think I would have a concussion from banging my head against the wall if they all spelled badly!
Esther this was a true LOL post. While I am a terrific speller now, I wasn’t always that way. Just ask my hubby. Once the kids started spelling tests in school, I just naturally worked harder at it. Plus, spell check on the internet played a big part too!
I just read all these wondering if anyone had the same problem I do. Yes! I spell “ocassion” every time, look at it, and see you would pronounce that some other way besides “occasion” and have to fix it. “Embarrassed” used to be a problem until I embarrassed myself enough times. I’d always ask myself Are there 2 r’s or 2 s’s? Well, finally remember 2 of each! Esther’s analogy of spelling with musical tallent is exactly right.