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Research has found
that children learn to spell in much the same way that they learn to
talk. They begin approximating words and move through a process
which eventually leads them to spelling. In the meantime, they need
to be surrounded by meaningful language, immersed in reading and writing
and taught spelling strategies that work for that individual child.
The average adult has a working vocabulary of approximately 70,000
words. Unfortunately, we can't teach children to spell each one of
them. When we teach children spelling strategies, we are providing
them with tools to apply to new spelling challenges they encounter.
Different strategies suit different learning styles. It is
important to give children many strategies from which to choose.
It is important to remember that practice makes perfect and that
children shouldn't try to learn all the spelling words at one time.
They should begin by reviewing the words that they already know and and
then begin to use strategies on the words that they are unfamiliar with.
Remember that the key to learning how to spell is to use correct
spelling while writing. |
Spelling Strategies:
* Sound it out
* Look for word families
* Connect the word to familiar sound patterns
* Name letters that
the child hears
* Exaggerate sounds in words
* Say word in syllables
* Say word in memorable rhythm or rhyme
* Spell word in a variety of ways and choose
the one that looks correct
* Envision the letters in your mind
* Look for root words and prefixes and
suffixes
* Have student say the letters names out loud
while he/she is writing the spelling word
* Make up a story about each letter
* Practice writing the spelling word in the air
with your finger or arm
* Cut out spelling words from newspaper or
magazines
* Organize the spelling words by the vowel
sound in the word
* Have child write words in ABC order
* Have child type the word son the computer
* Create a word search for all the spelling
words
* Play words games such as hangman
* Write word with letters missing and ask
child to write in the missing letter |
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How Parents can help:
* Read aloud favorite books
* Read alphabet books and discuss words that
have same beginning sound
* Draw attention to environmental print - Stop
signs, no dogs, exit
* Write labels on things in home - chair,
toybox, window
* Encourage your child to draw pictures
* Encourage
all writing attempts
* Display your child's writing
* Encourage your child to make an attempt at
spelling |
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