1st Edition

33 Ways to Help with Spelling Supporting Children who Struggle with Basic Skills

By Heather Morris, Sue Smith Copyright 2011
    112 Pages 29 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    112 Pages 29 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    33 Ways to Help with Spelling equips teachers and teaching assistants with a wide range of practical resources to help children who are having difficulties learning the basic skills of spelling.

    Offering a range of activities and games to engage children and encourage motivation in the classroom, this essential classroom companion provides ready-to-use material that doesn’t need lengthy forward preparation. Activities include auditory and visual mnemonics, phonetics and tactile tasks.

    These practical and fun ideas incorporate a variety of learning styles, using kinaesthetic and auditory techniques, that put the emphasis on ‘games’ rather than ‘work’. The activities are especially suitable for teaching assistants working with individuals or small groups. The book works step-by-step through practical activities which:

    • keep children motivated and enjoying learning
    • don't require extensive knowledge or experience from the adult
    • are adult-led so children don't have the opportunity to repeat mistakes
    • are grouped into different basic skills, so teachers can choose the activity best suited for the child’s needs
    • have clear, concise and pedagogically sound reasons for the activity
    • include extension activity where appropriate to challenge pupils.

    Aimed mainly at primary pupils, secondary teachers will also find this book invaluable to use with pupils who are falling behind. The series facilitates good inclusive provision and is a resource from which useful ideas and materials can be taken without having to plough through chapters of theory and research.

    Part A: Spelling Strategies  1.Teaching the Tricks  2. Feely Bag  3. Chaining and Tracking  4. Getting a Feeling for Words  5. SOS - Simultaneous Oral Spelling  6. Make a Mnemonic  7. Letter Confusions  8. Look Say Cover Write Check  9. Essential Spellings  10. Calendar Cues  11. Freeing Speller’s Block  12. Write Well, Spell Well  Part B: Phonic Activities  13. Phoneme Fixing  14. Clue Words and Silly Sentences  15. Phoneme Frames  16. The Alphabet Arc 1  17. The Alphabet Arc 2  18. Pattern Making  19. Spelling Stones  Part C: Games for Spelling Practice  20. Beat the Clock  21. Clear the Board  22. Dot to Dot Squares  23. Follow the Leader  24. Hollow Letters  25. Hopscotch  26. Quick Draw  27. Race and Chase  28. Snakes and Ladders  29. Shannon’s Game  30.Speed Spelling  31.Spelling Pairs  32.Throw the Dice  33.Word Searches  Appendices  1.Spelling Record Sheet 1  2.Spelling Record Sheet 2  3.Spelling Blitz Sheet  4.Alphabet Strip  5.Alphabet Grid  6.Word Wall

    Biography

    Heather Morris is a specialist teacher with a learning support service. She has taught in primary schools and in a unit for pupils with specific learning difficulties/dyslexia.

    Sue Smith has been a primary school SENCO and Reading Recovery teacher, who now specialises in one-to-one teaching of children with specific learning difficulties/dyslexia.