SPELLING EVENINGSPELLING EVENINGAIMSAIMS

To consider how our current spelling system has evolvedTo consider how our current spelling system has evolved To explain how we are teaching spelling at Fordingbridge Junior SchoolTo explain how we are teaching spelling at Fordingbridge Junior School To give some ideas of how you can help your child with spelling at homeTo give some ideas of how you can help your child with spelling at home

Outline of sessionOutline of session1)1) The current state of spelling – has it changed?The current state of spelling – has it changed?2)2) A brief history of spellingA brief history of spelling3)3) What makes a good speller and how can we can promote and develop What makes a good speller and how can we can promote and develop

good spellersgood spellers4)4) Our new approaches to teaching spelling at Fordingbridge Junior SchoolOur new approaches to teaching spelling at Fordingbridge Junior School5)5) Marking and TestingMarking and Testing6)6) How can you help your child become a better spellerHow can you help your child become a better speller7)7) Final thoughtsFinal thoughts

Good spelling instruction must give you the powerGood spelling instruction must give you the powerto spell words you have never seen beforeto spell words you have never seen before

““My spelling is wobbly. It’s goodMy spelling is wobbly. It’s good

spelling, but it wobbles, and lettersspelling, but it wobbles, and letters

get in the wrong place.”get in the wrong place.”

Winnie the PoohWinnie the Pooh

Was Spelling Better In the Old Was Spelling Better In the Old Days?Days?

““Pupils are turned loose on society to Pupils are turned loose on society to shock it with their bad spelling, and shock it with their bad spelling, and disgrace the schools which they attended disgrace the schools which they attended and in which they should have been and in which they should have been taught.”taught.”

Spelling Textbook 1881Spelling Textbook 1881

A Brief History of SpellingA Brief History of Spelling

What makes a good speller?What makes a good speller? Forget the idea that spelling is about memorizing words – there are Forget the idea that spelling is about memorizing words – there are

too many!too many! Good reader doesn’t necessarily mean good spellerGood reader doesn’t necessarily mean good speller Good spelling is about word construction/ how words workGood spelling is about word construction/ how words work Children should not be afraid of making spelling errors – kiss of Children should not be afraid of making spelling errors – kiss of

death to writingdeath to writing A spelling test is not a learning experienceA spelling test is not a learning experience Children need lots of opportunities to write for real audiencesChildren need lots of opportunities to write for real audiences Children need to know words are interestingChildren need to know words are interesting Children need to know about spelling’s place in the writing processChildren need to know about spelling’s place in the writing process The learning should be based on the pattern not the list of wordsThe learning should be based on the pattern not the list of words Children need to understand word parts e.g. prefixes, root words, Children need to understand word parts e.g. prefixes, root words,

suffixes and how to build up words – teach chunkingsuffixes and how to build up words – teach chunking Good spelling instruction must give you the power to spell words Good spelling instruction must give you the power to spell words

you have never seen beforeyou have never seen before

The 3 part lessonThe 3 part lesson

1)1) Collect lots of words which contain a Collect lots of words which contain a certain spelling patterncertain spelling pattern

2)2) Sort the words into groupsSort the words into groups

3)3) What have you discoveredWhat have you discovered

Ideas for Creating Better SpellersIdeas for Creating Better Spellers

Play the odds – the Las Vegas RulesPlay the odds – the Las Vegas Rules Put words with the same patterns togetherPut words with the same patterns together Good spellers can generalise a pattern, poor Good spellers can generalise a pattern, poor

spellers cannot spot or generalise a pattern – spellers cannot spot or generalise a pattern – therefore raise awareness of the patterns, teach therefore raise awareness of the patterns, teach them to spot/describe patternsthem to spot/describe patterns

Teach proof-readingTeach proof-reading Teach dictionary useTeach dictionary use Let children play with, construct, sort, Let children play with, construct, sort,

deconstruct wordsdeconstruct words

Marking SpellingMarking Spelling

TestingTesting

Ask them to learn the pattern not the list of Ask them to learn the pattern not the list of words (except for exceptions)words (except for exceptions)

Get them to teach the rule to someone Get them to teach the rule to someone else for homeworkelse for homework

Mark for the rule/pattern in testsMark for the rule/pattern in tests

How you can help your child at How you can help your child at homehome

Believe that your child can become a good spellerBelieve that your child can become a good speller Read regularly at homeRead regularly at home Take notice of environmental print at every opportunityTake notice of environmental print at every opportunity Have fun with spelling e.g. playing games, making up limericks and Have fun with spelling e.g. playing games, making up limericks and

riddlesriddles Give children real audiences for writingGive children real audiences for writing Do homework togetherDo homework together Praise adventurous misspelt wordsPraise adventurous misspelt words Have a dictionary at home to use where appropriateHave a dictionary at home to use where appropriate Make sure children proof-read their written workMake sure children proof-read their written work Talk about words as much as possibleTalk about words as much as possible

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

Once you brain has been stretched by a Once you brain has been stretched by a new idea it will never go back to the same new idea it will never go back to the same

shape – memorising doesn’t do this.shape – memorising doesn’t do this.

Once you have forgotten everything you Once you have forgotten everything you memorised in school what stays with you memorised in school what stays with you

is your educationis your education

Where next?Where next?

How will this workshop change what you How will this workshop change what you do at home with your child? do at home with your child?