Read with Mrs. A

How do I effectively teach spelling?

Some key components of effective spelling instruction include the integration of information about print, speech sounds, and meaning. These strategies support memory for whole words used in spelling and sight reading (Moats, 2005).

One example of effective spelling instruction I use is the Red Words (high-frequency or irregular words) process. When learning a new Red Word, students are taught to listen to the expected and unexpected sounds in words and map letters based on these sounds. Students then use a variety of multisensory techniques to increase orthographic mapping of these letters and sounds.

An ineffective technique for learning high-frequency words is the use of flashcards for whole-word memorization, which is a strategy teachers often report encouraging (Joshi et al., 2008).