The Science of Spelling: The Explicit Specifics That Make Great Readers and Writers (and Spellers!)

By J. Richard Gentry

Book Overview

Once again, Richard Gentry revolutionizes how you think about spelling instruction. The Science of Spelling breaks down preconceptions and misconceptions about how kids learn to spell, making startling new connections between orthography and literacy. Think that reading builds strong spellers? Through up-to-the-moment research, Gentry reveals that the opposite is true, that children use early spelling cognition to break the reading code. In fact, you'll discover that spelling is no longer a sidebar of writing and revision instruction, but a crucial strategy for teaching every aspect of literacy to all readers and writers. Best of all, Gentry's research also leads to new, powerful implications about the teaching of spelling, and he offers techniques and insight that will change your lesson planning, including how-tos for: identifying, through spelling, what level of emergent writing a student has attained using scaffolding, hand and finger spelling, letter boxes, and other instructional devices appropriately managing word lists and word sorts differentiating spelling instruction and assessment evaluating spelling books and finding alternatives to traditional spelling resources teaching phonemic awareness and phonics through spelling. Plus Gentry includes all the research-based forms, rubrics, and tools you'll need to put his ideas to work right away. Deepen your spelling instruction, enhance your students' ability to connect the words they see to what they understand and what they write, and see for yourself the hidden power behind the science of spelling.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0325007179
• ISBN13: 9780325007175
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Heinemann Educational Books
• Length: 163 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 7.4" x 9.4"
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 8

Customer Reviews

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Practical AND Exciting...a great new course for spelling

I have liked Gentry's previous ideas about spelling, but found his books were not focused on the practical aspects of spelling instruction. This time around, he has put together both a compelling interpretation of research on the spelling-literacy connection, and a guide for spelling instruction in the classroom at the elementary level. While he could have gone further in his explanations of his spelling curriculum, I found his instructions to be good enough to get me started. This is a superb example of how to bring effective differentiation into your classroom without heaping new piles of work on the teacher's desk. I enjoyed his critique of various spelling programs and ideologies, but once again, think he could have been more specfic. However, even without the complete detail I would have liked, this is a thorough arguement for including an active spelling program in your classroom, with a decent picture of how to get started. A great book for any teacher's professional library.