Many poor spellers today have not been given the chance to appreciate why people need to spell correctly.
Either they did not get help with spelling in school when invented spelling was popularized, or it has not been pointed out to them just how valuable spelling is in communication.
Bodycott (1993) studied a 4th-grade teacher's modified spelling program and discovered a lot about how a class focuses on broad aspects of spelling, such as function and purpose.
Rather than conduct a battery of spelling drills week after week, as many elementary teachers are wont to do, this particular teacher developed several teaching techniques for spelling that were dynamic – ever-changing to meet the pupils' needs.
It was found that this particular teacher had a 'spelling folder' for help with spelling. In it, she wrote three of her beliefs on the function and nature of spelling.
First, spelling is for writing – learning to spell is an integral part of writing, and ultimately helps a person communicate with others.
Second, students must learn the words they need to use – spelling words should be selected based on the various purposes of children's writing.
Third, standard spelling is important – if language is to be shared, then it must follow the accepted standard pattern (Bodycott, 1993).
In light of this, and seeing as how little time is spent on spelling instruction in the classroom these days, parents must take it upon themselves to provide their kids with computer software that they can use at home.
The Ultimate Spelling software is designed to kindle their interest as it has pictures and audio pronunciation, plus various levels of difficulties to fit their abilities.
One problem with conventional spelling lists in school is that the words no longer serve their purpose of improving a child's proficiency.
Gifted learners, for instance, "need to study words that are at a comparable level as their capabilities (Johnson, 1997).
To get help with spelling, lists should have some degree of customization. When words are automatically taken out of their spelling lists as soon as they have mastered them, children can learn at a faster pace.
The last mantra on the teacher's folder emphasizes the need to follow the accepted standard pattern of spelling – and this cannot be overemphasized.
Various techniques for beginning spellers may be employed, but eventually, spelling has to be mastered for an individual to excel in the real world.
References:
Bodycott, P, 1993, 'Personalizing spelling instruction: Lessons from a classroom', Childhood Education, vol. 69, no. 4, pp. 216-220.
Johnson, A P, 1997, 'Word class: A way to modify spelling instruction for gifted learners', Roeper Review, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 128-131.