That Spelling Thing is an evidence-based method using the ‘bones of English’ – phonics and morphology – to support memory, ensure accuracy and increase vocabulary. Below are the steps to spelling that frame our CPD sessions. Spelling is a vast subject which, if taught on a word-by-word basis, can feel overwhelming. Instead, … Read More
I asked some teachers what kind of errors their students make and this answer grabbed my attention: Forgetting simple rules – e.g. /ee/ at the end of a word is ‘y’, etc. My first thought was that some students might know words like ‘agree’ or ‘tea’ or monkey’ but lack the language … Read More
If you love etymonline.com for exploring the history of words, here’s another rich resource, a dictionary of British English spelling (one dialect only) arranged by phonemes with their corresponding graphemes (for spelling) and graphemes with their corresponding phonemes (for reading). It’s not a lightweight book and, like etymonline, contains more information than … Read More
This is going to be a short post but it’s accompanied by a four page pdf to get you started. It’s another chance to stress three important things about teaching spelling. 1. You can avoid potentially confusing rules if you have consistent spelling conversations about syllables sounds graphemes endings suffixes 2. Don’t … Read More