Despite the current knowledge about learning disabilities, many students are not diagnosed as having them until they are well into college, when they start encountering difficulties in organization and coursework. Interestingly, this late identification can be attributed to the paradox of the gifted/learning disabled students (Lauffer, 2000).
This paradox is explained thus: Exceptional intelligence can enable these individuals to compensate to the degree that they are able to cope with their studies, as they cover up their need for special education assistance.
Some gifted/learning disabled students then have problems overcoming spelling difficulties later in life, and while they exhibit strengths in fields such as visual pursuits and abstract reasoning, they encounter problems in organizational skills, spelling, timed tasks, and written expression.
Spelling lessons over and above those given in school should be started early on in a student's life. Doing so not only develops in them a habit of looking up the meanings or spellings of words as they are encountered, but also enables them to challenge themselves to advance to higher levels of spelling proficiency.
It is worth your money to spend on comprehensive computer spelling programs such as the popular Ultimate Spelling software, which provides a myriad of features designed to deepen a child's understanding of words.
As spelling skills develop, so too do writing skills. Writing is a person's way of communicating to others, and it should therefore make use of conventional spelling. Otherwise, no matter how brilliant a person's ideas are, they become worthless if they are communicated poorly to others.
The Ultimate Spelling software helps in overcoming spelling difficulties by presenting several usages for a particular word and even linking to the Web for sites relevant to that word. As a result, words to be studied are given context and are easily adopted by the software user.
Taking into account that there are average, as well as advanced learners, 'there is no one right level for all children at a given age' (Manning & Underbakke, 2005) for spelling drills.
It may happen that you would start your 9-year-old child off with the Ultimate Spelling software's grade 1 level if he or she happens to lag in class, spelling-wise. After a few weeks, you would be surprised to find your child moving on to higher levels, and perhaps to a level higher than the grade he or she is in after a few months.
Overcoming spelling difficulties takes dedication, even with the help of the best spelling software. A few minutes daily should be spent using the features of the software you're using to maximize its benefits.
References:
Manning, M & Underbakke, C 2005, 'Spelling development research necessitates replacement of weekly word list', Childhood Education, vol. 81, no. 4, p. 236.
Lauffer, K A, 2000, 'Accommodating students with specific writing disabilities', Journalism & Mass Communication Educator, vol. 54, no. 4, p. 91.