Teaching spelling is an important and complex job. The English language can be complicated and there are many exceptions and variations to the set rules.
One who is teaching spelling is not only handling an assignment, he or she is influencing the vocabulary and thinking process of a future generation of politicians, doctors, lawyers, and marketing executives. Not only do educators instruct children and young adults on the rules of spelling, they are also involved in teaching spelling to immigrants who study English as a second language. These spelling skills are essential for anyone who wants to eventually excel in the work place.
Teachers who are teaching spelling must be able to introduce students to general rules of spelling and provide clear examples on why these conventions work and make sense. They must also encourage their student to reason on these spelling patterns and articulate the principles they have learned.
Teaching spelling not only requires the educator to know the patterns and be comfortable in teaching them to others, they must also understand the exceptions to the rule and provide examples for the student’s full comprehension.
While some educators are sticklers for propriety and emphasize the conventions of the language when they teach, others bring a level of interactive fun to the classroom. Some use theme days at school and decorate the classroom according to the theme, with the feature being the spelling lesson.
Others employ games into the learning, from the classics like Bingo and Tic Tac Toe to modern games like “Survivor” in which students sit in a circle and take turns shouting out individual letters to spell a complete word until they are each voted off the island.
Advanced classes require deeper study and so some who Teaching spelling use etymology in their lessons, explaining the origin of the word in its original language. Other techniques for those teaching spelling might include creative exercises, such as encouraging a student to write his or her own story.
Other teachers use more common games, such as bowling or sports, as a reward for their students’ good work. Some teachers prefer the traditional style of assigning homework, taking a personal interest in each student, and praising the effort put forward.
What’s most important is that educators that are teaching spelling get involved and are just as motivated to teach as the students are to learn. Each child is different and including all the children in the spelling program by making it fun and interesting for the entire class.
Teaching spelling can be a tough job but can also be rewarding, especially when a teacher sees the results of all his or her hard work: a classroom excited about learning, and progressive students earning high grades.