Using the Brain to Spell: Effective Strategies for All Levels

by Sally E. Burkhardt

Overview

This book offers practical advice to teachers unsure of how to teach spelling. Filled with student-centered wisdom, Burkhardt grounds her methods in both theory and practice, providing logical rules and hands-on exercises to keep students actively engaged.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781607096993
Publisher:	R&L Education
Publication date:	06/16/2011
Pages:	316
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Sally E. Burkhardt is a retired English teacher, who taught in the middle grades for more than fourteen years. She has also served as a Fellow in the Capital Writing Project at Virginia Commonwealth University. Visit her website at braintospell.com.

Table of Contents

List of Figures ix

List of Tables xi

Foreword xiii

Acknowledgments xvii

Preface xxi

1 In the Beginning 1

2 Priming the Spelling Pump 29

3 Using Logic to Spell 53

4 Focusing on Letter Patterns 77

5 Eye Openers 93

6 Rules Rule 111

7 Which One? 127

8 Fine Tuning 137

A Richard L. Gentry's List of 500 Most Frequently Used Words in Children's Writing, Reorganized by Patterns 169

B Example Words Illustrating Multiple Spellings of the Schwa Sound 173

C A Source List of Multisyllable Words for Further Logical Spelling Practice 175

D Student Assignment Sheets to Reinforce Logical Spelling Principles 177

E Student Assignment for Answering Questions on Logical Spelling Principles 181

F Word Bank of Words Containing Deviant Letter Patterns 183

G Word Bank of Words Containing Double Consonants 191

H List of Tongue Twisters in Alphabetical Order According to Each Twister's Beginning Consonant 199

I Spelling Rules Science Key 203

J Word Bank for Application of Basic Spelling Rules 207

K Basic Spelling Rules in Outline Format 211

L Word Bank for Application of Spelling Rules for Doubling a Final Consonant 215

M Word Bank of Exceptions to Basic Spelling Rules 219

N Source List for Writing Memory Tricks for Spellings of Homonyms 221

O Student Worksheet for Correctly Spelling "Their," "There," "They're," "To," "Too," and "Two" 255

P Source List for Writing Memory Tricks for Spellings of Words Commonly Confused 257

Q List of Words That Have Interesting Entomologies 261

R Student Worksheet for Guessing the Meanings of Vocabulary Words Used in Context 263

S Noun, Verb, Adjective, and Adverb Suffixes 265

T Words That Have a Minimum of Four Grammatical Forms 269

U Word Web Generated from the Roots "-Spec-," "-Spect-," and "-Spic-" 273

V Magniloquence Word List 275

References 277

Index 283

About the Author 291

Editorial Reviews

I guess I took it for granted that I was a good speller when I was a kid, so I did not understand why others could not catch on as quickly. Now I have the tools with your book to make (my students) more confident and love the language.

Keith Bauman

Using the Brain to Spell is an engaging, sensible, and accessible work grounded in theory and practice. Burkhardt embraces whole language with a vengeance and makes language learning fun for both students and teachers. In her discussion of 'guessing games,' she inductively foregrounds logical rules for hands-on exercises that let students teach themselves with teacher guidance. But she does not offer readers panaceas; instead, she offers us practical advice, tempered with student-centered wisdom.

William Smith

The book is a unique, readable, and energetic compilation of teaching ideas. .. The author advocates making spelling fun with lots of games, but the suggested activities all have pedagogical goals based on research and experience.

Patricia McAlexander

I was in school in the 80s and did horrible in spelling. Looking back now as a teacher I can see why I was not as successful as I could have been. The strategies and curriculum from that time needed help! There was no connection made between spelling and other subjects, and our only spelling homework was to memorize the words. Sally Burkhardt's strategies in Using the Brain to Spell fail where the curriculum from my youth failed. The logical spelling strategies in this book do not stifle students; instead they help them to be successful spellers and writers.

Kimberly Whittenberger

From an administrator's point of view, I believe this book provides teachers multiple strategies to increase spelling effectiveness for struggling spellers. The many games, techniques, grammar, vocabulary, mechanics, reading and writing skill, word lists and spelling guidelines discussed will certainly suggest ideas to better challenge poor spellers to become more proficient. (This book) gives a subjective plan in solving the spelling puzzle in working with students of all ages.

William C. Zwick Ed.D

Burkhardt states that understanding the developmental nature of spelling acquisition, as well as the memory processes of the brain, leads one to realize that spelling acquisition will be slow and often imperceptible; children will not demonstrate spelling and language improvement over short periods. Therein lies the fallacy of most, if not all, spelling programs regardless of age level. This reviewer, a former teacher and current methods instructor, has always lamented to students that spelling is the one area that is not taught well. Burkhardt has now changed this reviewer's mind about the practical application of spelling using the brain. This book is engaging, sensible, and accessible while at the same time based in theory and practice. The preface explains how to use the text and find out what chapters are important for which age levels. The numerous detailed appendixes are accessible for classroom teachers and will enhance their overall research. This book is strongly recommended for teachers as they ponder and develop strategies to make sense of everyday spelling in the classroom. Highly recommended.

Choice Reviews

If I were still teaching my second-graders, I would frequently refer to this book for its many teaching ideas. Now I plan to use many parts when playing with my grandchildren.

Alison Lewis

Burkhardt states that understanding the developmental nature of spelling acquisition, as well as the memory processes of the brain, leads one to realize that spelling acquisition will be slow and often imperceptible; children will not demonstrate spelling and language improvement over short periods. Therein lies the fallacy of most, if not all, spelling programs regardless of age level. This reviewer, a former teacher and current methods instructor, has always lamented to students that spelling is the one area that is not taught well. Burkhardt has now changed this reviewer's mind about the practical application of spelling using the brain. This book is engaging, sensible, and accessible while at the same time based in theory and practice. The preface explains how to use the text and find out what chapters are important for which age levels. The numerous detailed appendixes are accessible for classroom teachers and will enhance their overall research. This book is strongly recommended for teachers as they ponder and develop strategies to make sense of everyday spelling in the classroom. Highly recommended.

Choice

Burkhardt states that understanding the developmental nature of spelling acquisition, as well as the memory processes of the brain, leads one to realize that spelling acquisition will be slow and often imperceptible; children will not demonstrate spelling and language improvement over short periods. Therein lies the fallacy of most, if not all, spelling programs regardless of age level. This reviewer, a former teacher and current methods instructor, has always lamented to students that spelling is the one area that is not taught well. Burkhardt has now changed this reviewer's mind about the practical application of spelling using the brain. This book is engaging, sensible, and accessible while at the same time based in theory and practice. The preface explains how to use the text and find out what chapters are important for which age levels. The numerous detailed appendixes are accessible for classroom teachers and will enhance their overall research. This book is strongly recommended for teachers as they ponder and develop strategies to make sense of everyday spelling in the classroom. Highly recommended.

CHOICE

From an administrator's point of view, I believe this book provides teachers multiple strategies to increase spelling effectiveness for struggling spellers. The many games, techniques, grammar, vocabulary, mechanics, reading and writing skill, word lists and spelling guidelines discussed will certainly suggest ideas to better challenge poor spellers to become more proficient. (This book) gives a subjective plan in solving the spelling puzzle in working with students of all ages.

William C. Zwick