Kim, Thanks so much for taking the time to "spell" this out for me.? It sounds like a very organized, effective plan that I will share with my teachers.? Thanks again.
Leslie -----Original Message----- From: kimberlee hannan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group <[email protected]> Sent: Sat, 2 Aug 2008 12:43 am Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Personal Dictionary Okay, I have gotten several emails about this. I actually got it from a fantastic literacy coach I worked with a few years ago. The spelling folder is out all period (or all day for K-6) and used for all subjects. It does not go home. I have three goals by spelling this way: 1. I have watched the kids writing get totally stymied by trying to spell one word and all writing comes to a skidding halt. 2. I want them to learn strategies to help them spell on their own. Memorizing is NOT an effective strategy for most people. 3. I want them to take the risk and try to spell a word, but still ask for help. Picture a regular manila file folder. No space goes to waste: Name is in the tab part. The very front cover is labeled *Unforgivables*. Both the right and left inside are labeled * Individuals*. The back cover is labeled *History.* *Unforgivables* is a whole class shared list. These are those *extremely common* words that you think all kids should be able to spell by now. These are also words you notice are used and misspelled a lot. For your little ones it's mostly the dreaded "sight" words. When I introduce the folder and the *Unforgivables *list. I ALWAYS start with girl (gril), first (frist), and friend (freind). This is when I teach them the "Try It Out" spelling strategy.++ I show them the correct spelling, and I put the word on a chart which is kept posted. They copy the word correctly on the folder and have a partner on one side of them double check their spelling. It does them no good to have a word misspelled in their reference folder. I will dictate several words a day taking 5-8 minutes a day, tops. *Individuals* are ANY word they have tried to spell using "Try It Out" strategy. More often than not they will bring the sticky they used and ask, "Is this the way you spell ----?" If it's right, they copy the word onto the list. If not, I do it for them. It's time consuming, especially at first, but it's useful and fun. Especially when I walk around and kinda tease them, by pronounci ng the misspelled words phonically. We add more words along the way, by need. By the end of the year, it's a hefty list. By 7th grade, I do very little editing during Writer's Workshop. It's mostly peer editing. However, the kids turn in final drafts inside the spelling folder before typing. If I find two of the *Unforgivables* misspelled, I stop and mark where I stopped reading. I give it back to the owners and have them keep trying. Sadly, at the beginning, I only get through 3-4 lines before I return it. It's quickly improves especially if they do enough partner editing. The *Individuals* list I will just give reminders for, tell them to look on their list. I may even add some to the spelling folder in another color for them to use to edit. I am not as strict about those words. The *History* section is for any words related just to the history section. If they are writing a paper for history, the theme words go here, and the regular words go in the proper place. With the small guys (K-3) I think I would nest two folders together and staple along the fold. I would divide the pages in half, both front and back, including both covers. In the corner of each half, they could put, AB, CDE, FGH, IJK, LM, NOP, QRS, TU, VW, XYZ. I would use the last halves for very common content words. That way they haven't got to search all those words to find the one they are looking for. For those who have never heard of the "Try It Out" strategy: On a sticky note the student tries three or four different spellings of a tricky word. They can usually tell which one is the correct spelling, or a friend can. I'd rather teach the kid a mini mini lesson than a whole word. I can also celebrate what the kid does right. "You were only off by one letter!" I get entirely too wordy about this stuff, sorry. But I hope it helps. > Kim > ------- > Kimberlee Hannan > 7th CORE-ELA & WH > Sequoia Middle School > Fresno, California 93702 > > The best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book. ~Author Unknown > > mrsh [EMAIL PROTECTED] > _______________________________________________ > _______________________________________________ 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. _______________________________________________ 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.
