The Difference between Spelling and Reading The difference between spelling and reading is in the processes required for each. It is a belief that if students know their sounds and letters spelling will be easy. This is a fallacy. Students can recite the sounds of the letters as they presented but may be unable to […]
Today I spent time with some friends at a lego display at the Ipswich Art Gallery. It was an amazing display as you can see from the photos. Children loved it and so did the dads and mums who accompanied them. But the most important observation was that the children were relaxed and enjoyed […]
All About Spelling Works !!! Over the last few years I have been using an excellent spelling resource that produces amazing results. That resource is All About Spelling. I am telling you about this program because I have noticed on different forums that parents and teachers have been concerned about the way some children are being taught spelling. This has […]
NAPLAN Spelling is one of the tests that is conducted in Australia’s National testing regime. It measures the ability of children in spelling in Years 3, 5 & 9. Some of the questions are repeated in consecutive years, obviously, to see the change in the spelling behaviours. Spelling is a rule based, alphabetic principled exercise that is […]
How often do you listen to your child read and notice that when he comes to decoding multisyllabic words, he mumbles and keeps on going? I have experienced this so many times that I wonder if it is in the DNA! These are the children who aren’t self monitoring for meaning, they are getting the […]
Teach your child to read faster through experiences and pictures- it is the most meaningful way to begin reading. How do experiences improve reading? Children develop their world knowledge through their personal experiences. These experiences allow children to use their knowledge of the world to help them read and learn. If a child had no experience of […]
A night experience of a beach town. As parents we MUST continue reading activities over the holidays to improve reading. This is the time when you will be able to do just that little bit extra that will make the difference. I have three simple activities that you can do that won’t cost a thing BUT […]
Accurate Assessment Reading problems can be turned around given time and the right support. Recently, I tested a student who was substituting words in a reading passage. Probably, these errors were overlooked because the teacher was more concerned with children who were reading well below the age level. But when I looked beyond […]
Spelling is based on a letter and sound system that needs constant focus to develop automatic recall. Having quick letter and sound knowledge frees the brain to work on spelling. Early spellers use letter and picture charts until they remember the letters and sounds without a prompt. http://www.letterboxlearntoread.com/productsThis strategy is also useful […]
Spelling success and sounding skills are first cousins!!!! . Sounding must be the first step before spelling can improve. It is a skill that needs to be taught explicitly, daily and with enthusiasm. Children’s ears need to be tuned into the sounds in words. Write what you hear Over many years I have decided that […]
