Download Spelling Booklet DOC File - Aldingbourne Primary School

A Guide
To Spelling At
Aldingbourne
Primary School
A GUIDE TO SPELLING
Research states that there is clear evidence
that the teaching of spellings should be interactive and meaningful
for all children. The sending home of weekly lists to learn for a
test is not an effective way to learn to spell. It serves only to
highlight the great spellers and the poorest spellers and doesn’t do
a lot for the children in between. As a school we have discovered
that children are actually very good at learning spellings for a test
but its amazing how many children score 10 / 10 in their weekly
spelling test but continue to spell all of those words wrong in their
writing.
At Aldingbourne Primary School, we wish to ensure that all
children are given opportunities to succeed and develop the skills
and strategies needed to become competent spellers. This policy
sets out guidance to parents, teachers and children. It outlines the
purpose of spelling, the type and amount of spelling which is
appropriate for children of different ages and abilities, the
frequency of spelling activities and the role of parents in
supporting their children.
APPROACHES TO SPELLING
We believe that the teaching of spelling should be
fun, interactive and meaningful. As a school we have
discussed the different strategies for teaching spelling
and we aim to cater for all different learning styles.
 AUDITORY LEARNERS – Listen to how the word sounds to
help them spell. They use their knowledge of letter sounds,
blends or syllables to help them spell. They often say the word
out loud or sometimes make up a funny rhyme or tune to help
them remember words.
FINALLY…
S
P
E
L
L
I
N
G
ay it
lay with it and move with it
ars help you hear it
earn to use your own learning style
earn to go that extra mile
t’s a multi-sensory
o more failure just success
ive spellings your very best
We hope that this information is of use to you and indicates the
value which we place on spelling within the school. If you would like
further information or advice please contact your child's teacher
who will be pleased to help.
SPELLING STRATEGIES
 Break the word into sounds
(e.g. e-n-t-e-r)


 Break the words into syllables
(e.g.in-ter-est-ing)
VISUAL LEARNERS – Look at the word carefully, they say it
aloud pronouncing all the sounds. They can close their eyes and
see the letters as they spell the word. Visual learners have
excellent sight vocabulary
KINAESTHETIC LEARNERS – Use movement to help them
learn to spell. They learn to spell by physically making words.
They write words in the air to remember them, they use
actions to spell out words and make words using individual
letters.
MULTISENSORY LEARNERS – Use all three of the above
learning styles to help them spell.
 Break the word into its root and affixes
(e.g. un-help-ful)

 Use a mnemonic (e.g. ‘In the end you need a friend’)
Children and adults all use different learning styles to help them
learn to spell. They all have a variety of strategies and techniques
to help them recall a spelling and as a school we need to recognise
that children need to be taught using as many of these strategies
as possible so that they have a chance of remembering their
spellings not just for a test but FOREVER!!!
 Apply spelling rules (e.g. ‘i’ before ‘e’ except after ‘c’
when the sound is ‘ee’ as in meet)
 Use spelling patterns (e.g. fright, slight, night, etc)
 Words in the same family (e.g. refer, referee,
reference)
 Use analogy (e.g. where, there, here – all linked to
‘place’)
 Mispronounce it to bring out the spelling (e.g. bus-iness, sep-a-rate)
 Words within words (e.g. there’s a ‘rat’ in separate)
 Visual and aural memory (Look, Cover, Write, Check)
Practez
Practis
Practese
Practice
Makes perfect!
SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO
TEACH SPELLING?
Key Stage 1
Encourage the children to have a go!
Weekly phonics lesson
Apple bags to be sent home weekly
Five focused spellings each week
Word finders
Zero tolerance of focused spellings and words on word
finders
 Busy Bee spellings in the toilet
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Key Stage 2
 Optional spelling homework
 Daily spelling teaching which is fun and interactive and
caters for different learning styles
 Weekly spelling test
 Red Words
 Zero tolerance of Red Words and weekly focused spellings
PRACTICAL IDEAS TO HELP
LEARN SPELLINGS
 Make the words visual and place them all around
the room
 Create songs and actions to
help learn the spellings
 Write the words in the air, in the sand, on a friends
back
 Put the words in a sentence
 Spell the words backwards
 Put a spelling on your forehead and ask a friend to
check if you spell the word correctly
 Clap a rhythm to fit the spelling of a word
 How many times can you spell the word in a minute
HOW WILL THE SPELLINGS BE
ASSESSED?
 Practice spelling the word in joined script
Twice a year the children will take
part in a simple spelling test. Once in the
Autumn term and again in the Summer term.
The test will give us an indication as to whether the children
have made sufficient progress with their spellings.
 Walk or jump the word
 Make the word using playdoh, smarties, liquorice laces
 Shout the word, whisper the word, spell the word in a
funny voice
