Anonymous wrote:Sorry OP, my 3rd grader has the same words (they must be working out of the same program) and she knew all the words on the list. We were hoping the words would get more challenging.

Why should my child have to sit through their and there just because yours is not advanced? She spent 3 years prior at school ?aiting to be taught something new.

Did anyone find it ironic that this poster used the wrong form of "there?"

Thanks for your thoughts 12:08. I appreciate it.

OK, clearly 10:48 is a troll, so let's forget about that one.

I'm the poster who replied yesterday about the prefixes studies (like substitute and subterranean), and while I understand OP's concerns about the spelling of more basic words, I also think those things are more likely to come organically through reading profusely.

My kids sometimes misspell words, but they have also learned (in 2nd grade, I think) what "their," "there" and "they're" mean. Part of it is that I can no longer remember what they had as spelling words in their earlier grades, versus what I taught them, versus what they just figured out from reading books/magazines.

OP, basically I agree that the words in 3rd grade AAP CAN be challenging, but I also think a lot of them are appropriate for a quicker learner. And even without knowing you or your kid, I still think that throughout elementary school, your child will pick up on the correct spelling of the basic building blocks of our language.

Anonymous wrote:Sorry OP, my 3rd grader has the same words (they must be working out of the same program) and she knew all the words on the list. We were hoping the words would get more challenging.

Why should my child have to sit through their and there just because yours is not advanced? She spent 3 years prior at school ?aiting to be taught something new.

good to know that someone finds it useful. Too bad you're so condescending.

Sorry OP, my 3rd grader has the same words (they must be working out of the same program) and she knew all the words on the list. We were hoping the words would get more challenging.

Why should my child have to sit through their and there just because yours is not advanced? She spent 3 years prior at school ?aiting to be taught something new.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here again -- more examples -- "prenatal" and "premed" -- it just seems implausible that an 8 yr. old would have any basis for knowing these words. Moreover, it seems silly for them to be studying these particular words when there are many other words that they would use more frequently and don't yet know how to spell.

I understand that the idea is on teaching the prefixes, but then why are 8 yr olds tested on the meanings and spellings of words they will not use for another 5+ years?

I think the purpose is to learn the stem meaning (pre = before) so that when an unfamiliar word comes up, they have that knowledge of the stems at least.

... yes, but they are tested on the meaning of the whole word and the spelling of words like "subterranean." Words like "prehistoric" -- ok, I think most 3rd graders can figure out the prefix and the root word b/c they know the word "history" or "historic." But, tell me one 8 yr old who is familiar with "-natal" (coming from the latin root "natum" meaning "born"). It's a base word that no 8 yr. old would know. Seems like an overly complicated way for kids to learn that "pre" means "before." Maybe these worksheets are just poor choices for 3rd grade.

If you learn the parts of words you can figure out more complex words as you come across them.

Anonymous wrote:OP here again -- more examples -- "prenatal" and "premed" -- it just seems implausible that an 8 yr. old would have any basis for knowing these words. Moreover, it seems silly for them to be studying these particular words when there are many other words that they would use more frequently and don't yet know how to spell.

I understand that the idea is on teaching the prefixes, but then why are 8 yr olds tested on the meanings and spellings of words they will not use for another 5+ years?

I think the purpose is to learn the stem meaning (pre = before) so that when an unfamiliar word comes up, they have that knowledge of the stems at least.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Give me an idea of what your child has in aap. I think my kids words seem beyond an 8 yr old's understanding...but maybe it's normal for aap.

Third grade wasn't too bad (is your kid in the Wordly Wise book? Caesar's English?). They're learning prefixes in my one kid's class. Sub --> substitute, subscribe, subterranean, etc. Or pre --> prepare, prescribe, etc.

Wait till 4th grade--my older kid was learning words I wasn't even sure of. I kept assuring him that if he learned these words, he'd crush the Verbal section of the SAT years from now.

Your examples sound familiar -- but don't you think it a bit much to expect an 8 yr. old to understand and spell words like that? I mean, my kid can't even accurately pronounce many of the words (i.e. substitute) so it's unlikely he can spell words he can't properly pronounce. He has no basis in real life for knowing what a "subcommittee" is -- it just seems like these would be appropriate for older kids. Yes, I understand this is AAP, but I'm wondering if my kid is missing out on learning to spell and use words like "their" and "there" correctly... or how to spell "could" and "should." It's fine to be all "advanced" -- so long as they cover the normal 3rd grade words first, IMO. And I don't see them doing that. It's like week 5 or 6 of the school year and they are supposed to know "subcommittee"???? (BTW -- there isn't a book, just printouts -- so no Wordly Wise or Ceasar's English.) It all just makes me question the value/fit of AAP.

Agree subcommittee or subterranean aren't typical words for an 8 year old. With teacher absences, I find it odd he can't say substitute.

OP here again -- more examples -- "prenatal" and "premed" -- it just seems implausible that an 8 yr. old would have any basis for knowing these words. Moreover, it seems silly for them to be studying these particular words when there are many other words that they would use more frequently and don't yet know how to spell.

I understand that the idea is on teaching the prefixes, but then why are 8 yr olds tested on the meanings and spellings of words they will not use for another 5+ years?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Give me an idea of what your child has in aap. I think my kids words seem beyond an 8 yr old's understanding...but maybe it's normal for aap.

Third grade wasn't too bad (is your kid in the Wordly Wise book? Caesar's English?). They're learning prefixes in my one kid's class. Sub --> substitute, subscribe, subterranean, etc. Or pre --> prepare, prescribe, etc.

Wait till 4th grade--my older kid was learning words I wasn't even sure of. I kept assuring him that if he learned these words, he'd crush the Verbal section of the SAT years from now.

Your examples sound familiar -- but don't you think it a bit much to expect an 8 yr. old to understand and spell words like that? I mean, my kid can't even accurately pronounce many of the words (i.e. substitute) so it's unlikely he can spell words he can't properly pronounce. He has no basis in real life for knowing what a "subcommittee" is -- it just seems like these would be appropriate for older kids. Yes, I understand this is AAP, but I'm wondering if my kid is missing out on learning to spell and use words like "their" and "there" correctly... or how to spell "could" and "should." It's fine to be all "advanced" -- so long as they cover the normal 3rd grade words first, IMO. And I don't see them doing that. It's like week 5 or 6 of the school year and they are supposed to know "subcommittee"???? (BTW -- there isn't a book, just printouts -- so no Wordly Wise or Ceasar's English.) It all just makes me question the value/fit of AAP.

Anonymous wrote:Give me an idea of what your child has in aap. I think my kids words seem beyond an 8 yr old's understanding...but maybe it's normal for aap.

What are the words?

Same here for the prefixes. Last week were words about places on a globe. Arctic Ocean, equator, hemisphere , etc

Anonymous wrote:Give me an idea of what your child has in aap. I think my kids words seem beyond an 8 yr old's understanding...but maybe it's normal for aap.

Third grade wasn't too bad (is your kid in the Wordly Wise book? Caesar's English?). They're learning prefixes in my one kid's class. Sub --> substitute, subscribe, subterranean, etc. Or pre --> prepare, prescribe, etc.

Wait till 4th grade--my older kid was learning words I wasn't even sure of. I kept assuring him that if he learned these words, he'd crush the Verbal section of the SAT years from now.

Give me an idea of what your child has in aap. I think my kids words seem beyond an 8 yr old's understanding...but maybe it's normal for aap.