Literacy Speaks Volumes

This morning, I took a little time to research some ideas on teaching spelling; here are some basics that I came across several times in my research: Spelling has evolved dramatically over the last few decades, from considering spelling simply as a tool for writing to recognizing that spelling offers perhaps the best window on what an individual knows about words. It is now seen primarily as a process of conceptual learning, rather than one of rote memorization. As time has progressed, we are seeing a definite evolution in the way spelling is conceptualized. Instructional implications have emerged that build upon the twin foundations of developmental appropriateness and the logic of the English spelling system. Learning to spell is a developmental process, and for most students it requires direct facilitation and guidance. Significant amounts of reading and writing are critical in the spelling process. For children in the early years of schooling, inven...

Words , a photo by trs125 on Flickr. Vocabulary study in the middle school curriculum is crucial to understanding both the curriculum and the texts. However, finding time to devote to full word study during the week can be an exhausting task. Several years ago our school adopted a school-wide Word Immersion program. The program was based on Robert Marzano's six-step process for learning vocabulary. I really liked the program and saw its potential for students. Unfortunately, most of the other teachers didn't. They saw it as a waste of time and energy, not to mention the number of copies needed each week for the vocabulary notebook. The process for learning vocabulary has six basic steps: 1. Explain the words to the students giving the definitions, examples, anecdotes related to word, etc. 2. The students then write their own understanding of the words in their Word Immersion notebook. 3. The students then draw a picture or symbol that illustrates th...