The first thing I started to do was to develop a deep understanding of spelling levels and characteristics of kids at particular levels. I read all I could about spelling, but I also watched kids' writing for what they used but used incorrectly...(For example, they put silent e's everywhere but not correctly) and used the WTW spelling inventory to determine levels and compared those to what I was seeing in their writing. THEN, I taught word work to small groups of kids based on their developmental level. Word sorts, word hunts, activities that asked kids to compare and contrast words not just on visual characteristics, but on sound patterns and also meaning patterns.
Spelling, many seem to forget, has a layer of meaning. A very simple example... -ed endings on verbs make something past tense. Ed sometimes sounds like -ed (seeded) sometimes sounds like -t (parked), and sometimes just like -d, (smelled)... so, different sounds, the same visually... but always changing the meaning of words. Pointing this out to kids helps them make generalizations that will help them correctly use that ending. We can also get into base or root words and how, with students in higher spelling levels, knowing the base helps you spell accurately. I pulled away from memorizing lists of spelling words. No more word searches, writing the words in sentences, or unscrambling words for spelling homework. Ineffective!! Instead I would have kids hunt for words with the pattern they were working with...do speed sorts with families at home, used poetry with patterns they were working on so that kids would have experience reading words that they were working on. I always used words for sorts that the kids already knew how to read AND also knew what the words meant. That's important. How can a child make generalizations about how patterns work if they don't even know the word? Childrens' spelling levels are below their reading levels. Jennifer L. Palmer, Ed. D. Instructional Facilitator National Board Certified Teacher Magnolia Elementary (home school) 901 Trimble Road Joppa, MD 21085 410-612-1553 Fax 410-612-1576 "In every child a touch of greatness!!' Proud of our Title One School Norrisville Elementary 5302 Norrisville Road White Hall, MD 21161 410-692-7810 Fax 410-692-7812 Where Bright Futures Begin!! ________________________________________ From: [email protected] [[email protected]] on behalf of Patricia Kimathi [[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2012 5:15 AM To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Words Their Way What practices did you change that you saw really made a difference. Pat K On Jun 11, 2012, at 6:54 PM, Palmer, Jennifer wrote: > _______________________________________________ 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
