EducationNews.org - A Leading Global News Source - Memorization wrong path to proficiency in spelling

EducationNews.org - A Leading Global News Source - Memorization wrong path to proficiency in spelling:

"The recent article by Chronicle reporter Ericka Mellon about how schools are dropping weekly spelling tests in favor of teaching methods that focus less on memorization and more on understanding why and how words are constructed has created quite a stir. The article prompted letters to the editor and an editorial supporting the more traditional approach.

Noah Webster, noted lexicographer, once wrote, “Spelling is the foundation of reading and the greatest ornament of writing.” Webster's quote so succinctly captures the importance of spelling instruction. Students' spellings provide insight as to how well students are connecting sounds to reliable patterns in the language. Students who have a sense of how the language works spell more accurately and use more sophisticated words. The trick is how to provide students with instruction that will lead to improved spelling."