Reading and Spelling are actually two ENTIRELY different issues. Reading Comprehension is a whole THIRD issue that is virtually unrelated to the mechanics of being how to read. And Writing, yet a fourth AND fifth (there are the mechanics of writing, and there is the actual skill of learning how sentances & paragraphs form ideas). A child can have problems with any or all of the above 5.
First off: Rule out Dyslexia. That usually needs to be done by a pro.
Secondly: Determine *exactly* which of the above 5 is the problem. Obviously, if a child can't actually read yet but the "problem" is spelling or comprehension... you'll just be banging your head against the wall if you don't back up and start at the beginning.
For Beginning Reading:
- www.starfall.com is phenomenal for early reading and early spelling... but beyond that there are SO many variables that I wouldn't know where to start. I've taught many children the above 5 things, but I've taught them all differently based on their personality, struggles, etc... and I've done it all one on one.
In general, however, I tend to follow a Charlotte Mason approach to reading, writing, comp http://simplycharlottemason.com/basics/started/charlotte-... using living books (aka FUN and exciting books that follow a child's natural interests), narration (written, drawn, verbal, acted out, drawn out depending on which the child likes best... first sentence by sentence, then paragraph by paragraph, and finally chapter by chapter), dictation, & copy work ALONG with http://www.hwtears.com/ for handwriting (but for those who loathe handwriting, I'll also mix things up to keep it "fun" -like taping their work to the underside of a table and have them do it "Sistine Chapel Style", or write with quills and ink, or write in lemon juice/secret messages, etc.), AND a some good old Montessori thrown in for the visual spatial learners http://www.freemontessori.org/wp-content/uploads/albums/L... & http://www.freemontessori.org/?page_id=21
I know I just posted a lot of info / sources (the montessori language album alone is over 100 pages)... but the upside... is that all of these resources are free.
For a non-free source (once your DD moves past www.starfall.com) DO NOT forget computer games. Reader Rabbit & ClueFinders are both Phenom... but they do cost about $10 each.