Spelling Tips

In both English classes we discussed ways to try to remember how to spell words. The following is a list of ideas for consideration:

• trace around the word to give it a particular shape that you can visually remember
• take a mental snapshot of the word when you are reading and when you are using the word in your work (this also works for diagrams and maps)
• refer to many of the spelling rules you have learned in elementary school, like i before e except after c, or drop the y add an i when adding a suffix (although their are some exceptions in the English language)
• when writing, change the way you say the word in your head to help you remember how it is spelled, example grammer (common mistake, because we are spelling it how it sounds), try to emphasize the ar, so you will remember it is spelled grammar.
• basic sounding out of the word by breaking the word down when you say it helps ex. prob ab ly
• as above, highlight the problem area where the mistake often occurs in spelling
• some people may find repetition of writing the correctly spelled word helps
• sometimes you just have to memorize a list of common words we use everyday, but also mispell everyday

Some of these words include: friend, you're, your, grammar, writing, happiness, their, they're, there, quiet, quality, where, were, which, casually, competition, mystery, physical, just to name a few for now.

Stay posted for the course outline coming later this week...it should go home and be signed by parents. I would like to have an updated phone number, parent contact and email address for communication purposes.