How is Spelling Taught?

by Mrs.Huddlestun

How is Spelling Taught?

Research in literacy development shows that the students benefit from purposeful, planned spelling instruction. The value of direct spelling instruction is critical to helping students read and write well. In other words, spelling provides a bridge between reading and writing. Students must spell well to read and write well.

Unsuccessful approaches to spelling instruction are the myths that spelling is learned through reading alone, independent home study, and repetitious copying of words. Instead, I use the practices of modeling, scaffolding, reinforcement, and development.

Models of correct spellings occur throughout each lesson as well as in take-home activities, so that modeling occurs both in and beyond the classroom. During writing activities, correct spelling is modeled frequently. Students are shown list words and Word Wall vocabulary during modeled writing. A variety of word analysis and application activities throughout each lesson helps reinforce student learning.

Scaffolding describes the process of bridging the gaps between what students can do and what they need to do. A variety of word analysis and vocabulary development activities helps students achieve what they need to do-spell troublesome words correctly. Carefully constructed lesson activities, in addition to opportunities for self-correction and take-home practice, help students develop spelling abilities and improve reading comprehension and writing success.

Effective spelling curriculums starts with understanding sound, pattern and meaning relationships. Spelling words are presented in lists organized by patterns. Research suggest that this method of delivery is more effective and less time consuming that presenting words in context. Words are divided into five categories: Commonly Misspelled Words, Word Patterns, Latin and Greek Roots, Affixes, and High-Frequency Words. My lessons follow a basic format every week. Students learn the pattern or sound by sorting list words, identifying illogical spellings of words, and reviewing through activities that focus on the use of list and Word Wall words versus repetitious copying.

The 5-Step Plan to Word Acquisition is a wonderful way to practice at home. Students say the letters in a word, cover the word, say the letters again, write the word, and check the spelling. A self-corrected spelling test is another effective means of drawing students’ attention to the words they should know. At the beginning of each lesson, students take a pretest followed immediately by feedback through self-correction. Such testing should be repeated frequently throughout a lesson if acquisition is to occur. Long-term memory and retention of spelling words is developed through a variety of word activities such as deconstructing spelling words into smaller words, Word Wall, and word games like Sparkle, word pyramids, and endless words.