I like what you had to say about exact spelling being not so important during the early writing years. Like the boy in GNYS at WRK, spelling seems to happen naturally with the process of writing. I think attention to spelling and all of the spelling tests we give our young students actually may interfere with their own natural learning process of the spelling of words. Having them focus on the actual process of writing sure seems like a better use of class time. I also agree with you about presenting writing in the same context as reading and personal life story telling. Good points!
When children first begin to write, stretch and spell is a common technique. So, like you said, exact spelling is not as important during the early writing years. When children are first learning to read and write, they use the sounds they know to do so. They have not yet learned all the little caveats of the English language. So, they write "wuz" instead of "was". They use the sounds they know to write out "wrds". Eventually, correct spelling develops as they learn more.
When children are encouraged to just get ideas down on paper and to work on fluency and voice, it can support risk taking. Risk taking, when learning a language, is essential. We have to remember that spelling is just one part of writing. There are so many other skills involved with writing. An overemphasis on spelling ignores the other elements to writing. Spelling can be worked on in context of one's own writing--later on in the writing process. Once a writer has talked about an idea, written it down, shared it....then s/he can work on the spelling....and not necessarily every word--that can be too overwhelming.
I like what you had to say about exact spelling being not so important during the early writing years. Like the boy in GNYS at WRK, spelling seems to happen naturally with the process of writing. I think attention to spelling and all of the spelling tests we give our young students actually may interfere with their own natural learning process of the spelling of words. Having them focus on the actual process of writing sure seems like a better use of class time. I also agree with you about presenting writing in the same context as reading and personal life story telling. Good points!
ReplyDeleteWhen children first begin to write, stretch and spell is a common technique. So, like you said, exact spelling is not as important during the early writing years. When children are first learning to read and write, they use the sounds they know to do so. They have not yet learned all the little caveats of the English language. So, they write "wuz" instead of "was". They use the sounds they know to write out "wrds". Eventually, correct spelling develops as they learn more.
ReplyDeleteWhen children are encouraged to just get ideas down on paper and to work on fluency and voice, it can support risk taking. Risk taking, when learning a language, is essential. We have to remember that spelling is just one part of writing. There are so many other skills involved with writing. An overemphasis on spelling ignores the other elements to writing. Spelling can be worked on in context of one's own writing--later on in the writing process. Once a writer has talked about an idea, written it down, shared it....then s/he can work on the spelling....and not necessarily every word--that can be too overwhelming.
ReplyDelete