Innovation in the teaching of spelling. (CK)

Presents two lessons to help students learn to spell well, explaining that students need authentic reasons for learning to spell. The strategies include (1) learning useful words (select words, list and study words, and post words) and (2) learning sounds, spelling patterns, and meaning--a spelling study (select the focus, find examples, group…

A series of four short articles by teachers describing how spelling can be made an activity kids can get excited about. (Editor/MB)

Spelling is the study of word-specific knowledge, and knowledge about words is important. Today, many fourth through eighth graders can't write with fluency because they don't have automatic access to basic words and spelling patterns. Yet, sadly, many teachers have had little support in this area. Luckily, evidence-based spelling instruction is…

Four strategies for motivating students to be good spellers are outlined: establishing a goal of always doing the best spelling for those who will read it; having students share their spelling strategies; responding to students' spelling; and using checklists when conferencing with students about their spelling. Sample checklists are included. (SM)

Suggests supplementary spelling activities involving selection of a phonetic element and construction of student-generated word lists. Designed for fifth graders, the activities can be adapted to any grade level. (CM)

Describes how to help young readers decode multisyllabic words by providing lessons on syllable spelling patterns. The article explains what a syllable is; presents the six common syllable spelling patterns (closed, open, r-controlled, vowel team, vowel-silent, and consonant-le); and offers a lesson on close syllables. (SM)

Five strategies to help students select and learn relevant spelling words include: proofreading and trying to spell misspelled words correctly; choosing words from their proofreading lists that might be useful for future writing; examining useful ways to learn how to spell words; learning related words that they can already spell; and getting…

This article presents several vocabulary-expanding prefix and suffix activities that will help students become master word builders. Games such as Base-Word Bingo and Spin-a-Word Game are great activities for practicing forming and spelling new words.

Suggests three strategies to help students hear the sounds in words: developing phonemic awareness; explore sound/symbol relationships; and discover spelling patterns. This method is most effective if teachers continuously encourage students to think about how these strategies will help them as readers and writers. (SM)

Presents three activities that prepare students for matching up with spelling partners, carrying out partner quizzes, and scoring partner quizzes. A sidebar provides tips for making partner quizzes work. (SM)

Author outlined a spelling program designed to take the predictability out of learning to spell. (RK)

Presented are 38 spelling activities which can be prepared for independent study. For those activities involving specific classroom tools and materials, these materials may be placed in a shoe box with directions for the activity stapled to the top of the box. (KC)