Phonics and Spelling go Hand-in-Hand
On Tuesday, October 24, Nina did a Facebook Live on the subject of spelling. She began by sharing how our amazing brains process written language. We know more and more about how our brain works because of fMRIs that neuroscientists are using to study how it functions. She continued by explaining how reading and spelling are connected, 2 parts of the whole for understanding written language, like two sides of a coin. (Here's the link to the video.)
Let’s pull those thoughts together here.
The first thing to understand about spelling instruction is that it must be taught concurrently with phonics instruction. While your young ones are learning a particular phonics rule and utilizing it in learning to read, they need to be applying that very same phonics rule in learning to spell. When they learn both at the same time, both reading and spelling make sense. They have confidence in both areas.
Here is why reading and spelling need to go hand-in-hand:
They are like two sides of a coin forming written language.
They both represent sound-symbol relationship—reading on one side of the coin and spelling on the opposite side of the coin.
Reading is a decoding skill; spelling is an encoding skill.
Decoding is translating printed words to sound and meaning; whereas encoding is the opposite—using sounds to create printed words.
Let’s make a point of this again. Their spelling instruction must correlate with their phonics instruction.
Unfortunately, many spelling programs often introduce a new phonics rule and the exceptions to that rule in the very same lesson.
And worse, often there is no correlation between phonics (reading) instruction and spelling instruction, because they are seen as two totally different subjects.
This lack of correlation between reading and spelling and the introduction of the rule and the exceptions in the same lesson creates confusion for all children.
It’s worse for a dyslexic learner or any struggling or multi-language student who is working hard to comprehend an abstract phonics concept. It almost makes it impossible for them to internalize and master the phonics rule being taught, much less understand the exceptions. And spelling, the other side of that coin, can sort of drop out of sight in the confusion.
This is why Phonetic Reading with Silent Elephant “e”™ teaches reading and spelling together. We understand how the brain reads and spells.
With Phonetic Reading with Silent Elephant “e”™, you’re able to relax and expertly teach each abstract phonics rule through sequentially organized, multi-sensory, whole-body lessons guiding your young ones to a concrete understanding of each phonics rule for reading and spelling.
You’ll watch your kids feel so confident in their understanding of a phonics rule that they will eagerly accept the challenge to spell words that follow that rule.
Since Silent Elephant “e”™ was created so all learners could learn spelling along with reading, we provide you with lengthy leveled word lists (Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3) moving from simple to complex for every phonics lesson. These word lists for reading, spelling and vocabulary development are an integral part of each phonics lesson in Silent Elephant “e™. They provide you with NUMEROUS words focused on each phonics lesson’s objective—words to use for word recognition, for vocabulary development and for individualized spelling lists.
Spelling is important and all children, struggling or not, can be successful when we connect it to their reading and teach it the way their brains learn.
Join us on our Facebook page, Silent Elephant e, LLC Group, for more discussion on teaching spelling and everything reading related.
Contact us at silentelephante@gmail.com or nina.silentelephante@gmail.com