Spelling for Life (2^nd Ed.) Uncovering the Simplicity and Science of Spelling

There is a myth that English spelling is unnecessarily complex, and it is spread by those who don?t understand the writing system. Spelling for Life offers lucid, accessible tools which help to reveal that, when explicitly and systematically taught, spelling is scientific, law-abiding and even elegant.

Using a synthesis of theory, research and teaching experience, the fascinating nature of English spelling is systematically teased out. The examples and exercises throughout offer an encouraging, accessible way to implement the program of study and strive to reveal the beauty of spelling. Spelling for Life enables teachers and students to:

? learn what the common spelling coping strategies are;

? gain insights into undoing poor spelling habits;

? work together to reveal patterns not only in regular spelling, but also in words which on the surface seem to break the spelling rules;

? practise successful spelling strategies, progressing from simple to complex words rapidly and with confidence.

This new and improved edition includes updated spelling techniques as well as new chapters on orthographicmapping, spellingassessment, teaching consonant clusters well and suffixing rules. Aided by example lessons, formative assessments, unique tools, a scope and sequence, and extensive practice lists, this highly acclaimed overview of spelling succeeds in developing theory and practice in the writing system for teacher and student alike.

Introduction

1. Orthographic Mapping
2. Spelling Assessment
3. Broken Rules and Word Stories
4. Word Families
5. Homophones
6. Mnemonics
7. Counting Syllables
8. Affixes
9. The Spelling Formula
10. The Difference Between Vowels and Consonants
11. What Consonants Say
12. Round the Blend
13. Illegal Letters
14. The Single Vowels
15. The Letter ‘y’
16. Final Silent E, Jobs 1-3
17. FINAL SILENT E Job 4
18. Final Silent E and Suffixes
19. Final Silent E Additional Jobs
20. The Wicked Sisters and Other Wacky Rs
21. The Vowel Generator
22. Strong and Weak Syllables
23. Schwa
24. To Double or not to Double?
25. The return of illegal ‘i’
26. The Suffix Generator
27. More Fascinating Patterns
28. Some Delightful Lists
29. A Suggested Scope and Sequence

Appendix 1. Forgive me, Scotland

Appendix 2. The Triangle Game

Appendix 3 Why not just make spelling simpler?

Lyn Stone is a linguist and author in private practice. She lives and works in Victoria, Australia, where she runs her education consultancy, Lifelong Literacy. Her goal is to help teachers awaken linguistic curiosity in their students using creative, engaging tools and strategies, based upon scientific consensus as to what constitutes best practice.