I Can't Spell!

I Can't Spell!

Remember weekly spelling tests? Are you an adult who still says, "I can't spell!" Here's some lesson plans that will heighten students' awareness of spelling through environmental literacy and ensuing discussions.

Spellilng treasure hunt: Assign the students to gather examples of spelling errors they see in everyday life. It might be a "Quik Mart" convenience store or a misspelled billboard or marquee. It may be a word in a newspaper article. It might be on the back of a cereal box, or in an email from a friend. Give them a week to find as many examples as possible. Perhaps they might spend a class period looking at each other's work or their own and playing editor, looking for misspelled words. Students can often tell you which words they have misspelled but don't know how to correct them.

Next students share their findings. Talk about how language is fluid and why it's spelled the way it is. It is a combination of languages and is not spelled the way it sounds or phonetically as many students have learned. As a result, many students are convinced they are "bad" spellers.Teach them they CAN spell and that the word "can't" is a four letter word, one which is unacceptable to use in your classroom.

Discuss linguistics and why the English language is said to be the "most difficult" to learn to spell. It derives from a host of other European languages. The word "beautiful", for example, comes from the French word "beau" meaning handsome. Talk about the not only the etymology of words but discuss how irregular the language is in its rules and variations. More words break the rules we learn early in school than follow them-- such as "when two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking and the second is silent." Consider the word "bread' or the sentences "I will read that book today" vs. "I read that book yesterday." Refer to Constance Weaver's book on literacy Reading Process and Practice
as an excellent resource.

For that night's homework ask students to make a list of the words they have the most trouble spelling and another list of words that are not spelled the way they sound, words such as "knock." The following day have students gather in small groups, compile their lists and report back to the full group. Write the words on the board in bright colors for students to copy, save and study.

Additionally you may ask them to make a list of "new" words they use in everyday language such as in their texting with acronyms such as ROTFL meaning rolling on the floor laughing. Make a list of homonyms, words that sound the same but are spelled differently. Talk about how language shifts, changes and grows simultaneously with time. Ask them to think about when they use different language codes in varying circumstances-- with their parents, at a job interview, with their friends.

Teach mnemonic spelling aids to help them to remember commonly misspelled words such as arithmetic. "A rat in the house might eat the ice cream." Unusual sentence which makes it memorable. The first letter of each word n the sentence spells the word arithmetic. Or, the word 'stationery" meaning a letter that goes into an E-nvelope, so that they remember the word is spelled with an "e" not an "a" in the final syllable. The word "stationary" with an "a" is a homonym meaning "immovable." Ask if they know any other tricks to help remember hard words.

Add to their board list of compiled homework words the most commonly misspelled words such as the word "definitely." Explain the meaning of the core word "finite" and how the prefix and suffix create the final spelling. This leads to a discussion of roots and affixes.

As the teacher, if you are a good speller, have them try to stump you by asking you to spell words they consider difficult. Let them choose words from the dictionary. Make it a game which shows them you are a lifelong learner and someone who cannot spell every single word correctly either. Laugh with them and at yourself and meanwhile enhance your spelling skills and theirs.

Finally, have a spelling bee between two teams using the word compiled in the lists from the discussions.

Spelling isn't easy but it can be both interesting and fun. For more fun with spelling have students visit the following online sites: http://www.monsterfacts.com and http://www.kidspell.com

Billings students CAN spell and have fun learning how.