1. Spelling Information Workshop January 2013

2. Aims of this session  To identify strategies for teaching and supporting spelling at home.  To clarify our expectations for practice in spelling at Anton.  To develop a consistent approach to the teaching of spelling throughout our school.

3. How did you learn to spell? What are your feelings about spelling? Think about which aspects of spelling you find easy and which aspects you find trickier – why is this?

4. Why children need to learn to spell correctly:  Correct spelling is a vital lifelong skill, necessary for most jobs.  Sometimes if children are worried about their spelling it can interrupt their flow of writing.  Spellings are forgotten after tests (Anton now uses three weeks of different spelling lists, followed by a fourth week consolidation of all three lists.)

5. How do we teach spelling at Anton?  We give children words to learn in a particular spelling family e.g. boat, coat, float.  Children learn these by writing them into sentences (often silly sentences help children to learn them!)  They also use spelling games e.g. pyramid words, cake words, writing in sand, using Scrabble pieces to form words (see spelling game handout in your pack.)  Spellings are tested through dictation and we also ensure that the meaning of each word is understood.  Teachers at Anton have had recent phonics and spelling training in order to provide short, focused and effective spelling teaching in the classroom. Remember spelling tests are always separate to other literacy testing, i.e. QCA and SAT tests.

6. How do we help children who need extra support with their spellings?  We have a number of programmes set up in school to support these children: -Acceleread Accelewrite -Spelling Made Easy -Direct Phonics -Games: Word Shark, BBC Touch Type, Education City.

7. How can I help my child with spelling at home?  Use the spelling game pack provided this evening.  We will explain a couple of the many spelling games and activities suggested in your pack at the end of the presentation…

8. The Importance of Syllables in Spelling All good spellers are skilful at breaking words up into syllables: All good spellers are skilful at breaking words up into syllables:  care-ful  hos-pit-al  u-ni-ver-si-ty Breaking a word into syllables makes it easier to deal with one small bit at a time.

9. You can also help your children by:  Encouraging them to look closely at words and talking to them about words encouraging them to try new words  Tip: they won't do this if you are always criticising their spelling  Play word games with them, such as:  Hangman  Boggle  Scrabble  Encouraging spare time reading  Pointing out interesting newspaper items  Encouraging visits to the library  Buying comics, magazines and books as treats

10. Useful memorising strategies  When you come across a new word ALWAYS use the LOOK - THINK - COVER - WRITE - CHECK method to memorise it.  LOOK carefully at the new word. How can you break it into smaller bits? Do any of the smaller bits remind you of the patterns of letters from other words?  THINK about the parts of the words, which might cause problems - double letters for instance, or a vowel that isn't pronounced as you would expect.  COVER the word and close your eyes. Try to see it in your mind's eye.  WRITE the word down without looking back.  CHECK to see if you're right. If not, look carefully at where you went wrong and try again.

11. Mnemonics are useful for particularly tricky words, or for key spelling patterns:  piece – a piece of pie  because – Big Elephants Can Always Understand Small Elephants  ould – Oh, you, lucky duck (should, could, would)  ound – Oh you naughty duck (ground, found)  laugh – Laugh At Ugly Goat Hair  island – an island is land surrounded by water  necessary – 1 collar and 2 sleeves are necessary  separate – there is a rat in separate  secretary – a good secretary can keep a secret  terrible – Ribs feel terrible  business – going by bus is good business  rhythm – rhythm gets your 2 hips moving  accommodation – 2 cats, 2 mice, 1 dog - accommodation  soldier – soldiers sometimes die in battle  quiet – keep quiet about my diet  guitar – I only play guitar when I’m drinking fruit juice  Saw – saw a witch

12. Respecting "good mistakes" :  Those which use letter patterns which do make the right sound, even though they are not right for that particular word. So, for "purpose":  "purpus" would be a good guess - like "focus"  "prupos" would be a less good guess  Ensuring a dictionary is on hand for homework.

13. When your child is writing creatively…  Dot words which are incorrect when they are writing. E.g. catastofee  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>  Do not correct every spelling as it is demoralising – 3-5 is a good guide.  Praise, praise, praise and more praise for trying!!

14. Newspaper Words  If you have old newspapers and magazines lying around the house; put them to good use by helping a child prepare for an upcoming spelling test.  Let them cut letters from the magazines and newspapers and then use the letters to spell the spelling words.

15. Pyramid Writing  ‘Pyramid write’ your spelling words, writing very neatly! HHOHOMHOME

16. Food Writing  Children LOVE this!  Using squirty cream, alphabet spaghetti, water, pasta or anything else you can think of, write your spellings out.

17. WORD WEBS Word webs are likely to have more impact: autobiography biology biological graph graphic graphical autograph graphological automobile automatic autocrat autograph automaton Challenging more able spellers!

18. WORD WEBS Sign Consign Consignment Consigned Design Designer Designing Designed Designation Designate Redesign Resign Resignation Resigning Resigned Signature Signatory Assign Assignment Assignation Reassign Signal Signalling

19. And finally…  If you have any questions? Come and see us…  Please fill in the evaluation sheet provided.  … And use the Post-it notes to comment on what future training/information workshops you would find useful! Thanks for coming along! Thanks for coming along!