1:36 AM
Evelyn Aurik
Our school is part of the ICT contract and we are all doing an inquiry. My inquiry is about how to improve memory retention when spelling. I have found that children know a word for a short while and then don't know it any more. Also I have noticed that when repeating the same spelling test the children make the same mistakes (Even after teaching spelling). I searched the net to gather ideas and research proven ways to improve memory retention in spelling. These are some ideas that I have decided to trial in my year one and two class.
-For tricky words use a mnemonic. We call them spelling cheats. The children brain storm ways to remember how to spell a word ( e.g. To spell 'they' write the and add y, 'Was' -Wally And Sam, . We record their ideas on a spelling cheat sheet that is displayed in the classroom. I take every opportunity to model using these cheats.
-I am teaching letter sound knowledge. We stretch sounds out like bubble gum to hear sounds and record them as we say them. Also we play sound around. This is where I say a word like bat and ask the children to say or write bat without the 't' or to replace the 't' with a 'p' etc.
-The children learn words with the same pattern e.g. would, could, should
- I make links to the meanings of words two, twin, twice
-We build word families starting with a base word e.g. back backs backing, backwards, quarterback
- I have the children's spelling lists displayed. The children play a game called mindreader where they choose a word from their list and give glues so that the other children can work out which word it is. The clues are -it rhymes with..., a strategy you could use to learn this word is..., It begins with..., It has ...letters/blend.
-We play pocket spelling. This is when the children write their spelling words onto a piece of paper that they keep it in their pocket. They pocket challenge each other throughout the day.
- They rainbow write their words using a spelling strategy.
-They draw a picture to show the meaning of their spelling words.
-For tricky words use a mnemonic. We call them spelling cheats. The children brain storm ways to remember how to spell a word ( e.g. To spell 'they' write the and add y, 'Was' -Wally And Sam, . We record their ideas on a spelling cheat sheet that is displayed in the classroom. I take every opportunity to model using these cheats.
-I am teaching letter sound knowledge. We stretch sounds out like bubble gum to hear sounds and record them as we say them. Also we play sound around. This is where I say a word like bat and ask the children to say or write bat without the 't' or to replace the 't' with a 'p' etc.
-The children learn words with the same pattern e.g. would, could, should
- I make links to the meanings of words two, twin, twice
-We build word families starting with a base word e.g. back backs backing, backwards, quarterback
- I have the children's spelling lists displayed. The children play a game called mindreader where they choose a word from their list and give glues so that the other children can work out which word it is. The clues are -it rhymes with..., a strategy you could use to learn this word is..., It begins with..., It has ...letters/blend.
-We play pocket spelling. This is when the children write their spelling words onto a piece of paper that they keep it in their pocket. They pocket challenge each other throughout the day.
- They rainbow write their words using a spelling strategy.
-They draw a picture to show the meaning of their spelling words.
