Spelling 1

Today we will be looking at... The Importance of Punctuation Why spelling is so difficult Word origins Attitudes to spelling Approaches to Spelling Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check Spelling Rules Responding to learner writing Dictionary skills 2

Why is Spelling so difficult? One letter can have several sounds – C can sound like: ‘ch – church, chip, chocolate ‘k’ - Christmas, choir, ache ‘sh’ – champagne, machine Some words are spelt as they are pronounced like: remember, limit – but others are not – for instance: said, business, though 3

Why is Spelling so difficult? Phonemes: (Units of sound). The alphabet has 26 letters but 44 sounds. Each vowel has two sounds – a long and a short sound like: Ice cream, Igloo 4

Why is Spelling so difficult? Different letter combinations can make the same sound like: cloud, clown Individual letters can make different sounds like: yes, fly, happy 5

Word Origins Where do you think the following words come from? acousticadios alligatorbizarre locohamburger angstcalendar acidbreeze Bicyclein memoriam 6

Strategies for Spelling wetheringlessly How did you remember the word? Visual learners see smaller words within the word – wet, her, ring, less Auditory learners listen to the word and count syllables such as weth/er/ing/less/ly. Kinesthetic learners can write the word or trace it. 7

Strategies for Spelling Split double consonants ap/point, stag/ger Draw attention to difficult part Wednesday, February Exaggerate pronunciation Business, parliament 8

Strategies for Spelling Exaggerate silent letters I love knitting knickers Stress beginning, mid, end of words choc – o – late Teach groups or families pope, cope, rope, hope 9

Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check accommodation 10

Some Spelling Rules 85% of words obey a rule! One rule can cover hundreds of words! 11

Some Spelling Rules Can you read these words? hife, sitchem, ludge, yake, kneg, hation, vack, pheto. You pronounce the words according to your previous knowledge of English and sound patterns. 12

Spelling Rules Rules sometimes can be hard to follow but some rules easier than others & cover hundreds of words EG: i before e except after c achieve, believe BUT either, foreign 13

Spelling Rules Not many words end in ‘j’, ‘q’ or ‘v’ ‘Q’ is almost always followed by ‘u’. Iraq breaks both of the above rules! 14

Spelling Rules Group words together & pay attention to word structure Lead, stead, head Distribution, deception Obvious, previous 15

Spelling Rules Righteousness You only need to remember the four groups that make up the word to remember how it is spelled 16

Responding to Writing What strategies is learner using? What would you do to help learner? 17

Dictionary Skills What are some fears learners have about using a dictionary? Frustration Can’t find a word Not sure what kind of dictionary to use 18

Dictionary Skills Keep session short – min Have alphabet on a card or refer to Learning Journal. Use dictionary with clear print. 19

Dictionary Skills Start with initial letters & ask learner to locate first letter in the dictionary. Then, move to next letter and so on... Make personal dictionary. Use telephone books/Argos catalogue. 20

Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I will understand. 21