Description
Book SynopsisThis 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.
Trade ReviewBurkhardt 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 *
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, Ph.D., retired professor of English, University of Georgia
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, principal, The Villages Charter High School, The Villages, Florida
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, retired teacher, Fairfax Elementary, Mentor, Ohio
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, second-grade teacher, The Villages Charter Elementary Schools, The Villages, Florida
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, honors English teacher, The Villages Charter High School, The Villages, Florida
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, professor of English and coordinator of professional and technical writing at Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington
Table of ContentsChapter 1 In the Beginning - Underlying Educational Principles Chapter 2 Priming the Spelling Pump - Basic Strategies that Promote Spelling Ability Chapter 3 Using Logic to Spell - Teaching Poor Spellers to Apply Sound - Letter Strategies Chapter 4 Focusing on Letter Patterns - Helping Weak Spellers to Use Visualization Strategies Chapter 5 Eye Openers - Activities to Help Poor Spellers to Notice and Remember Common Deviant Letter Combinations in Words Chapter 6 Rules Rule - Learning to Apply Spelling Rules Will Improve Spelling Ability Chapter 7 Which One? - Teaching Students Memory Trick Writing to Remember Homonyms and Words Commonly Confused Chapter 8 Fine Tuning - Activities for Advanced Spellers Part 9 Appendixes Chapter 10 A.Richard J. Gentry's List of 500 Most Frequently Used Words in Childrenís Writing Reorganized by Patterns Chapter 11 B. Example Words Illustrating Multiple Spellings of the Schwa Sound Chapter 12 C. A Source List of Multi-Syllable Words for Further Logical Spelling Practice Chapter 13 D. Student Assignment Sheets to Reinforce Logical Spelling Principles Chapter 14 E. Student Assignment for Answering Questions on Logical Spelling Principles Chapter 15 F. Word Bank of Words Containing Deviant Letter Patterns Chapter 16 G. Word Bank of Words Containing Double Consonants Chapter 17 H.List of Tongue Twisters in Alphabetical Order According to Each Twister's Beginning Consonant Chapter 18 I. Spelling Rules Science Key Chapter 19 J. Word Bank for Application of Basic Spelling Rules Chapter 20 K. Basic Spelling Rules in Outline Format Chapter 21 L. Word Bank for Application of Spelling Rules for Doubling a Final Consonant Chapter 22 M. Word Bank of Exceptions to Spelling Rules Chapter 23 N. Source List for Writing Memory Tricks for Spellings of Homonyms Chapter 24 O.Student Worksheet for Spelling Correctly "their," "there," "they're," "to," "too," and "two" Chapter 25 P. Source List for Writing Memory Tricks for Spellings of Words Often Confused Chapter 26 Q. List of Words that Have Interesting Entomologies Chapter 27 R. Student Worksheet for Guessing the Meanings of Vocabulary Words Used in Context Chapter 28 S. Noun, Verb, Adjective, and Adverb Suffixes Chapter 29 T. Words that Each Have a Minimum of Four Grammatical Forms Chapter 30 U. Word Web Generating from the Roots "-Spec-," "-Spect-," and "-Spic-" Chapter 31 V. Magniloquence Word List
