Rosa - With regard to your concerns about an authentic way to teach children spelling, have you ever looked at Words Their Way (the original text, not the newly, complete with workbooks, published version) or Word Journeys by Kathy Ganske? I was extremely fortunate to have had Kathy as my graduate professor for word study. At the time, she had not published Word Journeys and we used the WTW text. When I took her course, I was teaching 6th grade and used her format with those students. Since that time, I have become a reading specialist and now work with students from kindergarten through fifth grade. All of my students have been exposed to her philosophy around spelling, namely that it is developmental just as reading is, and that in order to be effective, you need to know exactly where your students fall within a spelling stage. She designed a Developmental Spelling Analysis which tells you specifically what the strengths and weaknesses of each child are within their level a s well as how to work with each child (at their level). Continued instruction is geared towards letter patterns and sounds, meaning (vocabulary), recognition in authentic text, and transfer into student writing. Her new book, Words Sorts and More provides lessons and materials for planning instuction.
I have also used Diane Snowballs Spelling K-8 which is another fantastic resource that creates active engagement between the teacher and children without rote memorization from week to week. Most of us have already seen that an A student in weekly spelling usually falls short with those same words when they are unable to transfer them into writing workshop. This is my 10th year using this format, and I have yet to find any published program that even comes close. Our school adopted Rebecca Sitton before I came (6 years ago) and I have never used it with my kids. If I can be of any further help, please contact me off-line at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Linda -------------- Original message -------------- From: "Rosa Roper" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Hello, > I am working on planning for the next school year- and I could use some > help. I am going to have a 2nd grade inclusion classroom- students with > various disabilities will be included- mostly students with learning > disabilities- so it is very important to me that I meet everyones needs. > I am planning on using Phonics Lessons for grade 2 from Gay Su Pinnell and > Irene Fountas for my word work portion of my literacy instruction. > > However, I want to really TEACH spelling versus "here are your spelling > words for the week, and you will have a spelling test on Friday, for > homework write your words..." > So, I have some ideas but I am not sure the best way to go. > > I plan on having a word wall- and teaching from it- 5 words a week- 2nd > grade sight words and then: > > I really like Tim Rasinski's "Making and Writing Words" for grades 2-3, > which is making words with a phonics focus, but I also like the idea of > using word families with poems ( I have Tim's book "Phonics Poetry Teaching > Word Families"). > > > So this leaves me with "is this too much word work?" I really want to focus > on reading strategies and have a good balance. What are some suggestions for > putting it all together?? > Any help would be great! > > > Rosa > > _________________________________________________________________ > Make every IM count. Download Messenger and join the im Initiative now. > Its free. http://im.live.com/messenger/im/home/?source=TAGHM_MAY07 > >
_______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
