Literacy Across the Curriculum

Literacy Across the Curriculum2 Beter spelling

Better speling

Better spelling

Literacy Across the Curriculum2•People are scared of spelling. Your key role will be to bring reassurance and demystification•You’ve got to make it active•Spelling rules don’t work for a lot of us•Think of time-slots for spellings - end/start of lessons, tutor time, school newsletter•Word webs are better for display than lists of key words•Promote the joy of words - a spirit of inquiry

Some opening principles:

Literacy Across the Curriculum2Finger

Wrist

Elbow

Bladder

Pancreas

Recipe

Treacle

Anglo-saxon: fangen, to seize

Wrest, to turn

El, length of an arm; bow, to bend

Blaeddre, windbag

Pan, all; krease, flesh

Latin: recipere, to receive (from early prescriptions)

Greek: theriake from wild beast therion (originally a cure for wild beast bites)

Literacy Across the Curriculum2Coffee

Tea

Alcohol

Whisky

Rum

Punch

Flask

Pig & whistle

Arabic: kahwa, via Dutch koffie

Chinese dialect: t’e, but in Mandarin ch’a

Arabic: al-koh’l - a powdered spirit

Gaelic: uisge beatha, water of life

Latin/French: Rome (fine) + bouillon (hot drink) Hindustani: panch = five

Piggin - small pail & wassail - drinking

Italian fiasco - poorly-made glass

Literacy Across the Curriculum2Identify the MAIN strategies for your

school. Be selective. “Less is more”.

It’s easy to over-complicate …

Spelling strategies1. Break it into sounds (d-i-a-r-y)2. Break it into syllables (re-mem-ber)3. Break it into affixes (dis + satisfy)4. Use a mnemonic (necessary – one collar, two sleeves)5. Refer to word in the same family (muscle – muscular)

(word webs)6. Say it as it sounds (Wed-nes-day) (spellspeak)7. Words within words (Parliament – I AM parliament)8. Refer to etymology (bi + cycle = two + wheels)9. Use analogy (bright, light, night, etc)10. Use a key word (horrible/drinkable for -able & -ible /

advice/advise for -able & -ise)11. Apply spelling rules (writing, written)12. Learn by sight (look-cover-write-check)13. Visual memory (look-cover-write-check)

Literacy Across the Curriculum2Spelling approaches:

RULES (etymology, family of words [muscle/muscular])

PRACTICAL STRATEGIES (mnemonics, key word triggers, spelling logs)

VISUALS (words within words, word webs)

SOUNDS (break into syllables/sounds, spellspeak)

Literacy Across the Curriculum2How to make spelling strategies …

ACTIVE ?!

Literacy Across the Curriculum2Let’s get weaving

Literacy Across the Curriculum2Word webs are likely to have more impact than dictionaries:

autobiography

biology

biological

graph graphicgraphicalautographgraphological

automobile

automatic

autocrat

autograph

automaton

Literacy Across the Curriculum2Sign

Consign

Consignment

Consigned

DesignDesignerDesigningDesignedDesignationDesignateRedesign

Resign

Resignation

Resigning

Resigned

Signature

Signatory

Assign

Assignment

Assignation

Reassign

Signal

Signalling

Literacy Across the Curriculum2

definite Definition

Define

Redefine

ConfineConfinementRefineRefinery

Finite Finish

Finishing

Unfinished

Definitely

Indefinite

Indefinitely

Infinite

Infinity

Infinitive

Literacy Across the Curriculum2 re

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Literacy Across the Curriculum2cept

Literacy Across the Curriculum2con

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Literacy Across the Curriculum2un

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Literacy Across the Curriculum2Auto = self

Photo = light

Technic = craft

Para = by the side of

Trans = across

Con = with

Com = together

Choose a key word

Play around with some roots

Micro = small

Literacy Across the Curriculum2Mnemonics Fun

Necessary = never eat chips eat sausage sandwiches and raspberry yoghurt

Words within wordsenviRONment

buSINess

deFINitely

sePARAte

Got any others?

Literacy Across the Curriculum2Talking Point 2-2-4

What have you done with spelling in your own school

which has made most impact?

Literacy Across the Curriculum2• Use starters• Word-webs• Don’t make it a problem• Be explicit in how people spell• Key word displays• Spelling logs• Don’t overstate the importance of

dictionaries• Keep it simple

H

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N

T

S

Literacy Across the Curriculum2Whole school:

•Awareness raising through spelling displays, log-books, word-webs, competitions

Teams:

•Key words on display, glossaries, starters

Staff:

•Articulate spelling strategies, bed it into your practice, train teaching assistants

Literacy Across the Curriculum2 Beter spelling

Better speling

Better spelling