Do Math and Spelling go together somehow?

[JayGee]

Just wondering if anyone knows what the connection is between math ability and spelling ability.  DS tests well above grade level in math (hit the ceiling on the NWEA math section) and has never, in 4 years of school, missed a single spelling word. His reading scores, while good, are not stellar.  What is the connection between math ability and spelling ability?

[Roar]

Spelling is a weird thing in that some brilliant people are absolutely terrible at it.

Just off the top of my head I can think of two skill areas that would be helpful in both math and spelling. Those are visual memory and thinking in patterns.

[Geofizz]

Not in our house. 

I've actually had to work with the teacher to lower the level of the spelling words to allow DD to learn at her level, yet DD is comfortably excelling in math after a 2-grade acceleration.  I've actually found spelling and writing to be two places where I've had to educate this year's teacher that "gifted" does not always look like "top across the board."

[whatsnextmom]

I don't think there is much of a connection... at least not from where our family sits. We all own the gifted label. My DH is a top notch speller and while has an amazing memory for phone numbers and can do basic arithematic at a rapid rate in his head, actually didn't go very far in math and found the higher maths a struggle. I'm a terrible speller no matter the work I've put into it. I still use my fingers when computing daily math problems in my head. I went much higher in maths and sciences than DH ever went. My DD is an amazing speller and while not as strong in math in the younger grades due to a weak rote memory, really took off once Algebra and the likes came along. My DS is extremely math minded both with his rote memory ability and his higher math logic. His spelling is decent but not unusually so for age. I expect his spelling would be stronger if he was in an English speaking school but he tests at grade level for English spelling despite only starting to get English spelling and grammar lessones starting last year in 4th grade. 

I suppose a strong rote memory in the early years could be useful in both skills but my DD sort of flies against that statement.

[physmom]

I'd actually say it's the opposite many times (especially amongst my family where's there are plenty of professionals in math related fields but nobody can spell worth a darn, myself included!).  I also know a number of very smart scientists who couldn't spell their way out of a paper bag (or learn a second language for that matter too). Obviously it's not a hard and fast rule.  DH is an infinitely better speller than me (scientist and good at math) and can spell better than me in English, which is NOT his native language!

[bec]

My first is on an IEP for math because she is so far behind and just has no number sense whatsoever (does fine with visual spatial math concepts like geometry), but is a crackerjack speller.  I think spelling may be related to her visual spatial capabilities, but has nothing to do with the sequencing skills that are needed in a lot of elementary school math.

[JayGee]

Okay, must just be my kid then !!!

[Lollybrat]

I think there may be a connection. My son is possibly 2E (possibly gifted, definitely has autism). He has hyperlexia as a feature of his autism. Hyperlexia is a language processing disorder characterized by early reading combined with verbal language difficulties. I belong to a Yahoo group or parents of kids with hyperlexia. All of out kids are naturally good spellers and many of the parents report that their kids are very talented in math as well. This is the case for my son. He started reading and spelling at age two and can accurately spell just about any word you give him. He also is highly talented in math. When he started talking (just before she 3), we discovered hat he could count into the thousands and recognize numbers in he hundreds of thousands. He is advanced in arithmetic and geometry. When his preschool class studied shapes, he told the teacher that his favorite shape is a rhombicuboctahedron and then he spelled it so she could look it up! He loves doing arithmetic and can do work at least two grade levels above his age (he is currently in first grade).

So yes, I do believe that there is a connection between spelling and math for som kids.