Memories

Spelling - Then and Now

We learned to spell by rote

She spoke aloud we wrote

When talking was allowed

We had to recite aloud

Each student had to shout

The combination of letters out

An interesting way to learn

To spell the words we use.

I learned to spell by rote. Fortunately, I am visual learner. I could memorize

the words I had to spell.

I know there are many ways to teach students to spell.

For my fourth graders we (my support teacher and I) have been using parts

of words to help them figure them out. We ask them frequently to use

these guiding questions-

What does it mean?

What is the base?

Can you identify any prefixes or suffixes?

What are some related words?

We practice this often, they are noticing patterns.

Hopefully we are helping them learn to spell

and learn the meanings of words, through inquiry.