DEFINITION OF SPELLINGThe process or activity of writing or
naming the letters of a word.(Oxford dictionary)The act of spelling
words correctly or the ability to do this. (Longman
Dictionary)APPROACH OF TEACHING SPELLINGSteps to help pupils
remember the spelling of wordsPresent the words in a sentence.
Write the sentence on board.Read the sentence aloud; underline the
word as it is read.Point to the word and have pupils say it
aloud.Show pupils the word written on a flashcard.Tell pupils to
look at the word as a whole, not as individual letters. Tell them
to remember the shape.7. Tell pupils to close their eyes and
imagine the word in their mind.8. Tell them to open their eyes and
read the word again.9. Keep the flashcard. Tell pupils to write the
word in their paper. Tell them to look at the shape of the word
they have written, decide whether it looks right or wrong and
change if necessary.10. Show them the word again to allow them to
check. If the spelling is correct, tell pupils to write the word
again, to reinforce their memory. If it is wrong, pupils begin from
step 5 again.11. Some spelling rules need to be explained and
practised. For example:words ending in a silent e, drop the e when
a suffix which begins with a vowel is added (-able, -ing) use -
usable - using love - lovable - loving
However, these words keep the final e when the suffix added
begins with a consonant ( -ful,-ment) use - useful move -
movement
b) If a one-syllable word ends in a single consonant preceded by
a single vowel, double the consonant before adding -ing,-ed, or
-er. sit - sitting drop - dropping/ dropped
c) In words containing ei, or ie, when the sound is a long ee,
use i before e except after c. belief receive niece ceiling thief
conceit12. Reinforce pupils memory of the word by getting them to
write the word again at the end of the day or the next day. Devise
writing activities to allow pupils to write the word as frequently
as possible.
13. Integrate spelling with writing activities to make learning
spelling a purposeful activity. For example, in the early stages
when copying is being used, copying activities can incorporate
repeated copying of words that students find difficult to remember.
Example: All my friends are the same age as I am. Aileen is years
old. Meena is years old. Susie is years old.
