FAQ-Level 3
Question: My daughter and I were working on her level 3 post-test today. She can read all of the "level 3" words beautifully, but she is not doing so great on the spelling portions. She can eventually spell the words if I cue her by asking her to think about the spelling rules, or units, or to "pay attention to that vowel sound!".
Should we go back and practice some more in level 3 before beginning level 4? It's hard to stay my enthusiasm for what is coming and slow down!
Answer: (Susan Barton’s Response) Yes, she needs a bit more practice on the spelling rules in Level 3 before you move on. I suspect one or two review sessions is all it will take. After those review sessions, give her just the spelling portion of the posttest again -- and I am sure she will do much better.
Here's how to review spelling rules -- either to keep them fresh, or to reinforce one or two that the student seems to have forgotten.
Start by listing the names of just 2 spelling rules on a piece of paper and ask the student to tell you the spelling rule. If she cannot, briefly remind her of the rule. Use the short reminders that are on the attached Spelling Rules page.
Then build a word out of tiles, ask her to read it, and then ask her to tell you which of those 2 rules it follows. After she names the correct rule, ask her to tell you the rule.
Build 3 or 4 words for each of the spelling rules you are reviewing -- in random order.
Once she can correctly identify the rules when reading words on tiles, reverse the process and dictate 6 or 8 words that follow just the 2 spelling rules that you are reviewing that day.
After she spells each the word with tiles, ask her which of those 2 rules it follows. Then ask her to tell you the rule.
Question: How can I access the games mentioned in Level 3 of the Barton Program?
Answer: You need to go to Susan Barton's tutor support web-site at http://www.bartonreading.com/support.html and type in the username and password. If you don’t know them, feel free to email me at lweaver@covcs.org or send me a KMAIL. Then click on the Level that you are interested in and scroll down to “GAMES”.
