My son is 14 and his grammar and spelling is poor, I would like to help him improve.?

Question

Any hints, tips or websites that could help please. Thanks.

Answer 1

you could consider the kumon scheme, i have heard that it is very effective, however this is quite expensive... http://www.kumon.co.uk/
you could try this site for some interactive activities http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/interactive/
also see this page on the basic skills agency's website, it has useful links for parents... http://www.basic-skills.co.uk/site/page.php?cms=4&p=270
hope this helps, good luck!

Answer 2

As Free Your Fancy suggested, reading will help a lot with grammar.

More than anything, your son has to have a willingness to work on it. Unfortunately, it took me until my 20s to do so. A professor handed back a paper to me and told me to write it in English next time. Ouch! With bruised ego, I took it upon myself to improve my writing. Within a year's time, the same professor gave me high praise on my writing. The improvement can be achieved, but it will take a commitment.

A excellent book for learning how to write clearly is: "Style: Towards Clarity and Grace" by Joseph M. Williams (The University of Chicago Press). It may be hard to find, but well worth the effort to find it.

Answer 3

The best I can think of is getting him to actively participate in both production and reception of language. What is his favourite topic or hobby? Can you get him books on it? Does he like stories? Get him to read out a chapter or section each evening. Keeping it enjoyable is probably best, and keeping it below 45 minutes is essential, because an adult's attention span (without training) is little better than that, so a child's is only going to be worse.

Mostly, keep exposing him to as much language as possible; get him to read anything and everything, menus, signs, the newspaper, and be fair but quick with your praise. Finally, don't over-estimate your own abilities as a tutor. Be honest with yourself. Is your literacy of an excellent standard? If not, professional help is really indispensible.

Answer 4

No that's not perfect. I by no skill supply absolutely everyone a ultimate answer in the journey that they have got damaging spelling through the way. people do it on occasion on twist of destiny, I continuously "forgive" accidentals. many faculties do practice acceptable spelling that's in hardship-free words that grammar receives intermingled with "chat talk". English is amazingly a lot a casual language with the aid of our custom as we talk. seek for suggestion from from any English instructor and also you would listen the memories of woe about the atrocious spelling and grammar that they ought to determine.

Answer 5

This sounds simple but this really helped me. Have him look up 3 words each night from the dictionary. Write them down and their meanings. 3 words a night is 21 new words a week. Over 1000 new words a year.

Also I wouldn't worry too much. I was pretty bad too and now I'm a published poet. Anyone know where you can read or put poetry on here?

Answer 6

This improves over time with practice and constructive feedback. Review his homework with him and make him fix spelling and grammar mistakes. Part of the problem probably stems from the fact that teachers aren't supposed to grade on grammar/spelling for fear of hurting the little darlings' feelings.

Also, the more he reads, the more exposure he'll get to good grammar and spelling (most of the time).

Answer 7

Cast out the beam in your own eye - your first sentence has a plural subject and a singular verb. Get a tutor who is over the age of 55 and therefore was probably taught the rules of grammar. (But your son's teachers probably don't know them either - nor do the examiners!)

Answer 8

Every evening or so, sit down with him and have him write a one page story about any subject. Then have him read it aloud to you. Tell him to read the same way that he speaks. If the sentence sounds clumsy, ask him how it can be improved so that if flows smoothly.

Not only will that help him with his grammer and spelling, it will help him to build confidence in himself.

Good luck!

Answer 9

Do what my mentor did to me.

Have him do a paper, two, three pages long.

Then have him re-write it untill it impresses you.

Give him some pointers (proof read) and send him back to the drawing board.

My mentor did this to me on an article I wrote, which requried 10 drafts to meet her standards

It sold to a magazine in two days and made me $$$.

If you find recurring problems bring them to his attention.

My mentor, for example, told me "I fill in the gaps" with my mind.

In other words I write in short hand and my mind fills in what is SUPPOSED to be there, but isn't.

She called that a handicap and said I had to learn to overcome it.

Re-occuring spelling problems need to be addressed by how to do it right or correctly.

UNDERSTAND

This is the SAME PROCESS used in college with a MAsters or Doctorial THESIS

You write it, and ONE person (your Masters or Doctorial advisor) goes over it and SEND IT BACK TO YOU with a ream of comments and then you WRITE IT AGAIN.

When this process is finished you have a SQUEEQY CLEAN document that will pass the review board and make a book publisher approach you to put it out for public consumption.

Answer 10

Fish Oils improve concentration and things like handwriting, e.t.c, I take them and I'm 13 try him on those. You can get a medicine or capsules. I take capsules. I started on the chewy ones, but have moved on to tablet capsules which have a higher dose.