Some spelling tips
In my previous post about spelling woes, I talked about the three components of successful spelling - knowledge of phonemes & phonics, knowledge of spelling rules and memorisation & practice. This is a follow-up post in which I am going to introduce strategies for helping children spell.
These set of strategies is actually based on Webb's Depth of Knowledge. The basic premise is that different activities are of different cognitive complexity. And the higher the cognitive complexity, the more likely the knowledge gets retained in long-term memory. It's actually very logical when you think about it. Who is going to understand or memorise a piece of information or concept better - one who has just read and understood it or one who has understood it and is able to rephrase and teach it to another person? Obviously the latter, who clearly has performed a task that is cognitively more complex.
Enough of theory, let me give you practical advice! These activities are divided into three cognitive complexities (from Level One to Three). The higher the complexity level, the more complex the task, but the better chance spelling is mastered.
Example: C (jumping jack), A (jumping jack), T (jumping jack), CAT (jumping jack)
• 3-D Words: Use play dough or clay to sculpt your spelling words.
• Back Writing: Use your finger to spell out each of your spelling words, one letter at a time, on mom or dad's back and ask them to guess. Then it's the child’s turn to identify the words as mom or dad writes them on his back.
• Other Handed: If you are right handed, write your spelling words with your left hand. If you are left handed, write your words with your right hand.
• Rhyming Words: Write each of your spelling words. next to each word, write a rhyming word. if necessary, your rhyming words can be nonsense words.
• Match-up: Write each of your words on two different index cards. Turn all the cards face down and mix them up. Lay out all your cards in rows (like memory games) and flip over two cards at a time. Read each card aloud to see if they match. Keep them if they do, or flip them over and try again.
• Secret Agent Words: Number the alphabet from 1-26. Example: A=1, B=2, C=3, etc... Then convert your words to a number code. Write each spelling word and then next to it, write the word in code.
• Hidden Words: Draw a picture that illustrates the meaning of the word and write your spelling words in the picture. Try to hide the words.
• Make Some Music: Write a song or rap that includes your words. Share with a friend or family member.
Well, I hope you try these activities with your children. I am going to try some of these on my son (even though he has little issues with English spelling at this moment)
These set of strategies is actually based on Webb's Depth of Knowledge. The basic premise is that different activities are of different cognitive complexity. And the higher the cognitive complexity, the more likely the knowledge gets retained in long-term memory. It's actually very logical when you think about it. Who is going to understand or memorise a piece of information or concept better - one who has just read and understood it or one who has understood it and is able to rephrase and teach it to another person? Obviously the latter, who clearly has performed a task that is cognitively more complex.
Enough of theory, let me give you practical advice! These activities are divided into three cognitive complexities (from Level One to Three). The higher the complexity level, the more complex the task, but the better chance spelling is mastered.
Level 1
• Spelling Jacks: Spell your words as you do jumping jacks! For each letter do one jumping jack, then do one last jumping jack as you say the whole word you just spelled.Example: C (jumping jack), A (jumping jack), T (jumping jack), CAT (jumping jack)
• 3-D Words: Use play dough or clay to sculpt your spelling words.
• Back Writing: Use your finger to spell out each of your spelling words, one letter at a time, on mom or dad's back and ask them to guess. Then it's the child’s turn to identify the words as mom or dad writes them on his back.
• Other Handed: If you are right handed, write your spelling words with your left hand. If you are left handed, write your words with your right hand.
Level 2
• Reverse ABC Order Words: Write your words in ABC order but this time start at the end of the alphabet.• Rhyming Words: Write each of your spelling words. next to each word, write a rhyming word. if necessary, your rhyming words can be nonsense words.
• Match-up: Write each of your words on two different index cards. Turn all the cards face down and mix them up. Lay out all your cards in rows (like memory games) and flip over two cards at a time. Read each card aloud to see if they match. Keep them if they do, or flip them over and try again.
• Secret Agent Words: Number the alphabet from 1-26. Example: A=1, B=2, C=3, etc... Then convert your words to a number code. Write each spelling word and then next to it, write the word in code.
Level 3
• Story, Story: Write a story using all of your spelling words.• Hidden Words: Draw a picture that illustrates the meaning of the word and write your spelling words in the picture. Try to hide the words.
• Make Some Music: Write a song or rap that includes your words. Share with a friend or family member.
Well, I hope you try these activities with your children. I am going to try some of these on my son (even though he has little issues with English spelling at this moment)
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