Spelling

What is Spelling?

• Spelling is an important skill we all need in our lives.

• Children progress through developmental stages of spelling.

• There must be ample opportunities to write inorder to become better spellers.

• Research shows that traditional spelling rules only apply to about 46% of all words.

• Children are taught 37 basic rimes (word parts) which make up over 500 words.

• Spelling is individualized to meet student needs. They are given pre and post tests to ensure continuous progress at a level that is "just right".

Strategies to Use

• Say the word slowly and write the sounds you hear.
• Write the word parts, or "chunks", that you hear.
• Look at the word.  Ask yourself, "Does it look right?"
• Have a "go" at the word.  Write it two or three different ways.
• Proofread.
• Use knowledge about affixes, homophones, and compound words.
• Use analogies.  Think of a word you know that shares a common sound.

Things to do with your child

Write!  Have your child write lists, stories, label objects and pictures.

Play rhyming games!  Say a word and have your child state a word that rhymes.  This helps your child to hear similar sounds.

Find smaller words or word parts in words found in books and environmental print.

Play word games!  Boggle, Scrabble, Up Words, Hangman, and computer games.