Advice please

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Spelling Teachers Chatboard

Advice please

by teach

Oct 29, 2010

A student of mine is struggling with spelling tests. According to the parents, they work with their child almost every night practicing the spelling words for that week. They stated they use spelling city, oral recall, and written assessment. This student has average to above average reading and comprehension skills. I gave them some advise, but would also like to know what advice you might give to parents in this situation?

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John As a firm believer in multi-sensory instruction, it should go without saying that a teacher should first discover their own learning style. We don't teach how we were taught, rather we teach how we, ourselves, learn. Check out Growing Up Learning by Dr. Walter Barbe. He was a pioneer in this field of study. Go to [link removed].

On 12/04/...See MoreAs a firm believer in multi-sensory instruction, it should go without saying that a teacher should first discover their own learning style. We don't teach how we were taught, rather we teach how we, ourselves, learn. Check out Growing Up Learning by Dr. Walter Barbe. He was a pioneer in this field of study. Go to [link removed].

On 12/04/10, Terry/CT wrote: > It sounds like you're agreeing with Tom, not Mark. Mark is the > one who says that the research doesn't support multiple > modalities. > > On 12/04/10, Grace/IL wrote: >> I tend to agree with Mark on the issue of using multiple >> modalities (multi-sensory is the term I use), especially >> VAKT. While there may not appear to be a lot of research, >> this is the process that has been long advocated by the >> International Dyslexia Association. My master's project >> was using multi-sensory instruction in spelling to improve >> first graders' spelling and reading skills. I found the >> results to be very strong in favor of using visual, >> auditory, kinesthetic/tactile methods in combination. >> These results can be found in the Research Base section on >> my website (After you've looked at the link below, click >> on "Home", then on "Research Base." >> >> To further address teach's original question, one needs to >> determine where this child is on the continuum of learning >> spelling skills. This continuum was fairly well laid out >> by Edmund Henderson and his students at the University of >> Virginia in the 70s and 80s. My own very brief imperfect >> summary of that continuum is included in the link below. >> >> Spelling develops first as an auditory skill, learning >> which oral sounds are directly represented by certain >> letters (basic short vowel words). A logical next step is >> dealing with long vowel patterns (i.e., the 8 different >> spellings for long a, etc.) While teaching and learning >> these, meaning comes into play -- which spelling to choose >> for a particular meaning (made, maid). At the same time, >> the child may be learning about syllable juncture (hopped, >> hoped) and howaffixing single-syllable words (i.e., the >> presence of 2 consonants after a vowel) generally changes >> the sound represented. >> >> The next step appears to be vowel digraphs. Again, the >> child is faced with many choices and we need to know just >> where the breakdowns occur. We also need to work with >> students on those irregular or outlaw words that occur all >> throughout English spellings. Here I highty recommend >> Richard Venezky's book, "The American Way of Spelling." >> >> Some children may never become excellent spellers. What we >> really need to ask ourselves, after we'd done everything in >> our power to teach them, is "What is the real purpose in >> teaching spelling?" Frankly, it helps them become better >> READERS and better SPELLERS. >> >> Combining the use of the spelling continuum and VAKT >> instruction does seem to work well. Certainly I don't >> consider my views the be all, end all, authority but I >> offer them here for what they're worth. >> >> Grace

Jan 28, 2012

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John Over the years, I have found that people, not just kids, who cannot spell usually do not have a solid foundation in basic word attack skills. Understandingthe mechanics and contruction of the English language will garner a leg up to spelling skills. The Orton-Gillingham approach works best to teach these skills. Interested in more?? Visit [link rem...See More

Jan 28, 2012

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orbsy On 1/28/12, John wrote: > Over the years, I have found that people, not just kids, who > cannot spell usually do not have a solid foundation in basic > word attack skills. Understandingthe mechanics and > contruction of the English language will garner a leg up to > spelling skills. The Orton-Gillingham approach works best to > te...See More

Feb 27, 2012

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John Pfeifer On 2/27/12, orbsy wrote: > On 1/28/12, John wrote: >> Over the years, I have found that people, not just kids, who >> cannot spell usually do not have a solid foundation in basic >> word attack skills. Understandingthe mechanics and >> contruction of the English language will garner a leg up to >> spelling skills. T...See More

Mar 26, 2012

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