Johnny’s spelling?
First, find out what exactly Johnny knows and does not know. Use an effective diagnostic test such as the free Vowel Sound-Spelling Assessment found on penningtonpublishing.com to pinpoint his spelling weaknesses. Target those weaknesses with specific skill worksheets, word sorts, and flashcard practice. You can find these resources at your local bookstore, on the web, or in Teaching Spelling and Vocabulary ©2002 Pennington Publishing.
Next, teach the rules of syllabication and have Johnny practice sight syllable spellings with oral drills. Spelling is an auditory process—it is not a visual process. Encoding a word involves connecting letter relationships to the sounds that make up that word. A wonderful resource for developing the automaticity needed to consistently apply the syllabication rules is the oral Transformers activity found in Teaching Spelling and Vocabulary. That same book has the sight spelling syllable flashcards that any student must master for conventional spelling.
Finally, connect spelling instruction to vocabulary instruction. Over 50% of our academic words are built on ancient Greek and Latin word parts. Spelling and vocabulary have a reciprocal relationship—spelling influences vocabulary and, conversely, vocabulary influences spelling. Have Johnny practice the spellings and definitions of the most common Greek and Latin roots and affixes. Teaching Spelling and Vocabulary has lists of the highest utility word parts, flashcards, worksheets, and fun games to aid effective practice.
Who knows? With these strategies, Johnny just might become a conventional speller. Need more ideas? Check out the wonderful freebies for teachers and