Spelling Tests and Spelling Tests and Spelling PestsSpelling Pests

……and beyond!and beyond!

How did you learn to spell?How did you learn to spell?

Why do we need to spell correctly?Why do we need to spell correctly?

poor spelling creates a bad impression poor spelling creates a bad impression it's the first thing a reader notices it's the first thing a reader notices examiners, teachers and prospective employersexaminers, teachers and prospective employers

often place weight on spellingoften place weight on spelling anxiety about spelling inhibits individuals’ writing… anxiety about spelling inhibits individuals’ writing… ……and their choice of wordsand their choice of words even in these days of word processors there are even in these days of word processors there are

still times when we need to write still times when we need to write

To improve and develop their spellingTo improve and develop their spelling

learners need to:learners need to: develop an interest in words develop an interest in words feel safe about trying new words, not just words they're feel safe about trying new words, not just words they're

sure aboutsure about learn about the way words are built up using syllables learn about the way words are built up using syllables learn basic spelling patterns of English learn basic spelling patterns of English learn memorizing strategies learn memorizing strategies learn the meanings of words learn the meanings of words learn about prefixes and suffixeslearn about prefixes and suffixes write for their own enjoyment, without the fear that they write for their own enjoyment, without the fear that they

will be criticizedwill be criticized read for pleasure read for pleasure

Task 1Task 1You will be given a list of words, some of You will be given a list of words, some of

which are spelt correctly and some of which are spelt correctly and some of which are not. Highlight or underline the which are not. Highlight or underline the correct spelling of each word.correct spelling of each word.

(answers available upon completion)(answers available upon completion)

Task 2Task 2 Today, many people think they need not worry Today, many people think they need not worry

about spelling, since their word processor will about spelling, since their word processor will mostly take care of that tedious aspect. mostly take care of that tedious aspect. Unfortunately, that's not true. Firstly, spell Unfortunately, that's not true. Firstly, spell checkers are not clever enough to catch checkers are not clever enough to catch mistakes such as mistakes such as adaptadapt for for adopt adopt (both perfectly (both perfectly good words). Secondly, there are plenty of good words). Secondly, there are plenty of occasions in teaching, such as when you step occasions in teaching, such as when you step up to a flip chart, when your inability to spell can up to a flip chart, when your inability to spell can become embarrassingly obvious.become embarrassingly obvious.

Task 3Task 3

This is a test of your knowledge of English This is a test of your knowledge of English spelling. All you have to do is cross out all spelling. All you have to do is cross out all

the letter "e"s in two short passages.the letter "e"s in two short passages.

Task 3 ExplanationTask 3 Explanation Usually people miss about 5 "e's' out of the Usually people miss about 5 "e's' out of the

hundred in each passage, most of them in the hundred in each passage, most of them in the word "the". This test has been used to identify word "the". This test has been used to identify different types of dyslexia, signalled by problems different types of dyslexia, signalled by problems with 'important' <e>s which matter to the spelling with 'important' <e>s which matter to the spelling of the word, such as the <e> in 'den' which of the word, such as the <e> in 'den' which distinguishes it from other words 'din' and 'don' distinguishes it from other words 'din' and 'don' but not with 'unimportant' 'e's which don't matter but not with 'unimportant' 'e's which don't matter so much such as the 'e' in 'waited' as there are so much such as the 'e' in 'waited' as there are no word spelled 'waitid' or 'waitod'. no word spelled 'waitid' or 'waitod'.

What are the advantages and What are the advantages and disadvantages of using:disadvantages of using:

A spell checker?A spell checker?A traditional dictionary?A traditional dictionary?MnemonicsMnemonicsFlash cardsFlash cardsAnalyze and analyse Analyze and analyse or or realize and realize and

realise?realise?

Spelling Mistakes in Hand Drawn Street Notices

Printed Spelling Mistakes

Oops!Oops!

MnemonicsMnemonicsmnemonic mnemonic [ni-[ni-monmon-ik],-ik], helpful in helpful in

remembering something; or (as a noun) a remembering something; or (as a noun) a form of words or letters that assists the form of words or letters that assists the memory, e.g. the rhyme beginning ‘Thirty memory, e.g. the rhyme beginning ‘Thirty days hath September’. Rhyming verse is days hath September’. Rhyming verse is often employed for mnemonic purposes, often employed for mnemonic purposes, and it is sometimes claimed that this was and it is sometimes claimed that this was poetry's original function.poetry's original function.

What do the following mnemonics stand for?What do the following mnemonics stand for?

Big Elephants Can Always Understand Small Elephants.

Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain.

Every Good Boy Deserves Favour.

A shirt is made from one collar and two sleeves

Kids Prefer Cheese Over Fried Green Spinach. Kids Prefer Cheese Over Fried Green Spinach.

BBig ig EElephants lephants CCan an AAlways lways UUnderstand nderstand SSmall mall EElephants.lephants.

““because”because”

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RRichard ichard OOf f YYork ork GGave ave BBattle attle IIn n VVain.ain.

red,red, orange,orange, yellow,yellow, greengreen, , blue,blue, indigo indigo and and violet violet form the seven colours of the form the seven colours of the

rainbowrainbow

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EEvery very GGood ood BBoy oy DDeserves eserves FFavour.avour.

EEGGBBDDFF

are musical notes, in sequenceare musical notes, in sequence

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A shirt is made from one A shirt is made from one ccollar and two ollar and two ssleevesleeves

NecessaryNecessary contains the letter “ contains the letter “cc” once ” once and the letter “and the letter “ss” twice ” twice

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KKids ids PPrefer refer CCheese heese OOver ver FFried ried GGreen reen SSpinach.pinach.

This helps to remember the This helps to remember the order of taxonomy in order of taxonomy in

biology:biology:

KingdomKingdom, , PhylumPhylum, , ClassClass, , OrderOrder, , FamilyFamily, , GenusGenus, ,

SpeciesSpecies

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Think of mnemonics for differentiating the Think of mnemonics for differentiating the meaningmeaning of the following words: of the following words:

licence / licenselicence / license

affect / effectaffect / effect

enquire / inquireenquire / inquire

(If you’re a little rusty, word meanings are available)

Read Through Read Through ““ADVAANTEJEZ OV A ADVAANTEJEZ OV A RASHONAL SPELING: DHE TEECHING WOOD RASHONAL SPELING: DHE TEECHING WOOD

BE RASHONAL.”BE RASHONAL.”Why is the English spelling system so Why is the English spelling system so

confusing?confusing?

Should we try a simplified system of Should we try a simplified system of spelling?spelling?

The Simplified Spelling Society

Any Questions?Any Questions?