creative people and/or educators...how do i help

[Deleted]

Use his hands! It's lowercase but whatever.

So say "B-unny!" and use your right hand (index and thumb together to make a "b").

"D-og!" and use your left.

"Whenever you're spelling just look at your hands!" or something.

Also, just to totally dissociate the similar look, you could try sign language spelling letters. B and D are very different. It might help him make the distinction.

These are only quasi-thought out but I think if you can work in something more kinesthetic so he can feel the difference, or see it in some other way (left v right or this shape v that completely different shape) it would help him.

[smock]

So I guess this has to be "G" rated, eh?

[hopecounts]

funkyfirstgradefun.blogspot.com/2011/09/b-and-d-confusion.html
This is cute.

[shananagins]

B is for butt and your butt is on your back. The Butt of the b is in the back like your butt.

Slightly inappropriate, but he'll remember :-)

ETA, now that I'm remembering this I don't know how it helped me. The d looks more like a butt. IDK. I know my mom taught me that way and it worked.

[iheartvino]

Feb 27, 2013 16:19:37 GMT -5 hopecounts said:

funkyfirstgradefun.blogspot.com/2011/09/b-and-d-confusion.html
This is cute.

I like that idea! Also, my sister was dyslexic, and my parents/her tutors had her write a lot of her spelling words in pudding. You wouldn't have to do this every time, but you could give him a bunch of words with b and d and make him spell them in pudding (finger paint or the carpet works too, but it isn't nearly as fun.)

[speckledfrog]

Draw the line and then tell him that the belly goes in the front for a b. Then draw a line and tell him tat the doody goes out the back for a d. Not entirely appropriate, but it has a potty word so I bet he doesn't forget!

[daisyheadmaizie]

a and d look like c, but b is backwards.

that is the rhyme I taught DD.

[speckledfrog]

Feb 27, 2013 16:22:47 GMT -5 shananagins said:

B is for butt and your butt is on your back. The Butt of the b is in the back like your butt.

Slightly inappropriate, but he'll remember :-)

Words move from left to right.  The b's bump is the front!

[hopecounts]

Feb 27, 2013 16:23:47 GMT -5 frkls said:

Feb 27, 2013 16:19:37 GMT -5 hopecounts said:

funkyfirstgradefun.blogspot.com/2011/09/b-and-d-confusion.html
This is cute.

thanks!! i just found the "bed" thing on another first grade blog, too.  that's pretty awesome.  it's so frustrating!! 

It is but it is also pretty common.
and the pudding idea is good as well it adds a physical/sensory memory to it that can help it stick as well.