I will be the first to confess, I am a weak speller. I find it frustrating because I have a huge vocabulary and limited spelling. Thank goodness for Google - it always asks me, "did you mean?" and often that is what I meant. My spelling philosophy is based on my experiences and my education.
I believe that spelling is an important tool to have in the tool box for a writer and reader. However, with the prevalence of electronics that have spelling assistive technology, word usage and meaning are a skill that is more difficult to "ask Alexia." While your child will be assessed on their spelling words, according to Alberta Education POS, I will also be assessing their understanding of the word. Being able to spell the word is only half of the understanding, if a student cannot use the word correctly in a sentence they do not fully understand the word. Students are encouraged to write "complete, complex, meaningful" sentences using their spelling words, this skill will transfer to their general writing. If you watch one of the spelling videos you will note I am only saying the word. I say the words twice and students are allowed to watch the video as many times as they wish. I do not use the word in a sentence as part of our word work during the week is for each student to find the correct definition from their word list. By administering our spelling program in this manner, your child will walk away with a rich, broad vocabulary and an ability to write complete, complex, meaningful sentences.
I believe that spelling is an important tool to have in the tool box for a writer and reader. However, with the prevalence of electronics that have spelling assistive technology, word usage and meaning are a skill that is more difficult to "ask Alexia." While your child will be assessed on their spelling words, according to Alberta Education POS, I will also be assessing their understanding of the word. Being able to spell the word is only half of the understanding, if a student cannot use the word correctly in a sentence they do not fully understand the word. Students are encouraged to write "complete, complex, meaningful" sentences using their spelling words, this skill will transfer to their general writing. If you watch one of the spelling videos you will note I am only saying the word. I say the words twice and students are allowed to watch the video as many times as they wish. I do not use the word in a sentence as part of our word work during the week is for each student to find the correct definition from their word list. By administering our spelling program in this manner, your child will walk away with a rich, broad vocabulary and an ability to write complete, complex, meaningful sentences.