Effective Spelling Practice
My last post, “How to Teach Spelling Part IV,” discussed the role of the diagnostic pre-test as part of a balanced spelling program. I provided links for spelling word lists, including Vowel Sound-Spelling Patterns (for primary or remedial spellers), Outlaw Words (non-phonetic words), Dolch High Frequency Words, Commonly Confused Words, and the Eight Conventional Spelling Rules . I suggested that summer would be the best time to assess the spelling of your children to prepare for fall instruction and offered an essential resource: the comprehensive TSV Spelling Assessment at http://penningtonpublishing.com/assessments/TSV%20Spelling%20Assessment.pdf.
As I previously mentioned, each of the six posts will begin with a brief reflection about the instructional spelling component, follow with a rationale for teaching that component, and finish with some free instructional spelling resources. The components of each of the six posts are as follows:
1. Diagnostic Assessment 2. Sound-Spellings 3. Spelling Rules
4. Spelling Lists and Tests 5. Spelling Practice 6. Integrated Spelling and Vocabulary.
This week we explore how to use appropriate spelling practice as part of a balanced spelling program.
Reflection
□ I provide opportunities for students to practice words missed on the diagnostic pre-test.
□ I provide both memorization and writing practice for spelling words.
□ I connect spelling practice to structural analysis of the words.
□ I integrate spelling and vocabulary instruction in our practice.
Rationale
Effective spelling practice is not exclusively memorization. Good spelling practice connects to language development, vocabulary, structural analysis, auditory processing, and writing.
Language Development
The ways that words are spelled are determined by etymological influences. For example, the British spell the /er/ as “re” in theatre, while Americans spell the /er/ as “er” in theater. The ways that words are spelled are also determined by derivational influences. For example, the “ch” spelling in Greek has a hard /k/ sound, so the word chorus is spelled accordingly.
Vocabulary
The ways that words are spelled are often determined by the morphemes (words parts with meaning). For example, we spell emigrate because the prefix e means “out of,” while we spell immigrate because the prefix means “in or into.”
Structural Analysis
The ways that words are spelled are further determined by structural issues. For example, we spell begin with one n, but beginning with two n’s because of the consonant doubling rule. We pronounce unaccented vowels with the schwa sound in multi-syllabic words.
Auditory Processing
Spelling is an auditory skill, not a visual one. We “encode” the sounds we hear into the written alphabetic code. Good spelling practice involves syllabication rules, oral blending, and word fluency.
Writing
We spell in order to write coherently. Students need to practice effectively proofreading to catch inadvertent spelling errors.
Spelling Resources
Language Development
http://www.etymonline.com/ and http://www.yourdictionary.com/
Vocabulary
http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/reading/how-we-learn-vocabulary-from-word-parts-part-iv/
Structural Analysis
http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/reading/the-top-ten-syllable-rules/
Auditory Processing
http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/reading/how-to-do-sound-by-sound-spelling-blending/
Writing
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/8-proofreading-tips-and-techniques/
In next week’s How to Teach Spelling Part VI, we’ll deal with the fifth P-Post-test and have more resources to integrate spelling and vocabulary instruction.
For individual sound-spelling worksheets that correspond with the TSV Spelling Assessment, spelling rules with memorable raps and songs on CD, spelling tests, Greek and Latin affixes/roots worksheets, syllable practice,spelling games, vocabulary games, and more to differentiate spelling and vocabulary instruction, please check out Teaching Spelling and Vocabulary. Also check out Differentiated Spelling Instruction, the complementary fourth through eighth grade (Levels A-E) standards-based spelling series, designed to integrate instruction in spelling, structural analysis, and vocabulary. Each level has 32 weekly spelling pattern lessons and all the resources needed to differentiate spelling instruction: spelling pattern word lists with spelling sort worksheets, formative and summative assessments with recording matrices, review games, memory songs with MP3 links, supplementary word lists, and more.
