Teacher Questions

How do we best educate parents about word study?

	Show parents that spelling is a developmental process.
	Let parents know that writing is important.
	Advise parents not to be critical.
	Introduce parents to the concept of invented spelling.
	Persuade parent to make time for writing.
	Encourage parents to have fun with spelling.

(Gentry, p. 36)

What strategies help students study spelling words?

(from Kathryn Marin in Spelling Research and Instruction, p.49)

For new spelling words

	Look at the word and say it
	Spell it aloud
	Think about it
	Picture it
	Look at it and write it
	Cover, write, and check it

Rhyming Helpers

Link a word with a rhyming word

Problem Parts

Identify the part of the word that gives you problems and study it extra hard

Create Memory Tricks

Link tricky words with a memory helper that has the same problem letters

Using Memory Helpers

Pair a word with a shorter, related word that gives a sound clue

Divide and Conquer

Divide a word into smaller parts

Pronouncing for spelling

Pronounce a word correctly or make up a secret pronunciation

from Spel . . . is a Four-Letter Word (Gentry, p. 32)

Fitzgerald Method (in Gentry, p. 32)	Look at the word carefully Say the word With eyes closed, visualize the word Cover the word and then rewrite it Check the spelling If the word is misspelled, repeat steps 1-5
Horn Method (from Genrtry, p. 32)	Pronounce each word carefully Look carefully at each part of the word as you say it Say the letter in sequence Attempt to recall how the word looks, then spell it check this attempt to recall Write the word Check this spelling attempt Repeat the above steps if necessary

From where should we derive spelling lists to be studied?

Begin with frequently misspelled words, either from your students or a published list at that grade level. Basal textbooks, trade books, or content area vocabulary may not be appropriate as reading vocabulary is designed to introduce students to new words, yet good spelling instruction should focus on words students already know and use in their writing (Marine in Spelling Research and Instruction, p. 51).

Walters & Kehus, 1998
www.oakland.edu/~mikehus/wordstudy.htm