What Really Matters in Spelling: Research-Based Strategies and Activities - Softcover

Cunningham, Patricia

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0132612224 ISBN 13: 9780132612227

Publisher: Pearson, 2011

Synopsis

What Really Matters in Spelling Based on the active and innovative approach of making words that teachers and their students have grown to love from Cunningham, "What Really Matters in Spelling" presents teachers in grades kindergarten through eighth grade with a clear approach to what really matters in spelling. Full description

About this title

Review:

"Cunningham explicitly outlines the necessary steps for introducing 100 key words per school year and offers engaging activities for classroom teachers to help all of their students become great spellers.  This is exactly what classroom teachers are looking for: step-by-step spelling instruction that is meaningful and relevant to their students’ needs."

- Shanalee Cannon, K-5 Literacy, Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program, North Las Vegas, NV   

 

 

"The book was very interesting! I have already shared some of what I read with colleagues. I really like how the spelling is based on patterns and appreciate that the most common word patterns are broken down into lists (1st 100: 1st grade, next 100: grades 2-3, etc.). This is very helpful. The book makes a lot of sense!"

 

"Many spelling assessments concentrate on giving a list of words. In my classroom, I have given the “list” assessments, only to see students not writing words correctly in their daily writing. It is a wonderful idea to break these words down into 4 groups of 25. It’s great that [Pat] included the paragraph assessment with bolded/italicized words and the key to what these words mean."

 

"I liked the point on page 62 about if your student can spell the first 100 words, they should really be able to spell over 600 based on those patterns. This is very interesting and useable information for a classroom teacher and would be great information to share with students learning to spell."

-Mary Schroepfer, McKinley Elementary, Owatonna, MN

 

 

 "As a classroom teacher I know first hand how students’ spelling in written work seems to becoming increasingly problematic.  Students often spell words phonetically which are not always spelled correctly.  It seems as if students who continue to misspell these words in their writing do not move forward, as a matter of fact very little progress is made.   I think with [Pat's] approach students will have a better grasp on the tricky word patterns and help them to make a connection to other word patterns rather than just spelling one word and then moving on to the next."

 

"Yes, I would recommend this book for professional development as well because in speaking with many of the teachers it seems that students’ writing has become a sore spot in the classroom.  It seems that no matter how much writing you incorporate in your classroom, students are still misspelling common words that make their writing difficult to read.   There is definite need for this program and if it proves to be successful I am sure the books will fly off the shelf."

-  Karen Berecsky, Second Grade Teacher, Mill Lake, Monroe, NJ

 

From the Back Cover:

 

Patricia Cunningham

What Really Matters in Spelling: Research-Based Strategies and Activities

 

 

Based on the active and innovative approach of making words that teachers and their students have grown to love from Pat Cunningham, What Really Matters in Spelling presents teachers in grades kindergarten through eighth grade with a clear approach to what really matters in spelling. Pat reminds teachers how much spelling matters, how complex teaching spelling is, and how critical word walls and reading are to strengthening spelling skills. Her experience as a classroom teacher, researcher, scholar, and innovator gives readers a unique opportunity to learn from the best as Pat identifies the 100 most common words and patterns, and examines ways to develop sophisticated, independent spellers. Paired with Pat's book What Really Matters in Vocabulary, educators have the best tools to help every student become good spellers and communicators.

  

In their well-known and much welcomed thought-provoking style, Pat Cunningham, Dick Allington, and others bring you the best research-based instructional advice available. Each of the brief and inexpensive books in the What Really Matters series features what Pat and Dick know about one aspect of teaching and learning to read independently with understanding. To learn more about the series see the inside front cover.  

 

 

"Cunningham explicitly outlines the necessary steps for introducing 100 key words per school year and offers engaging activities for classroom teachers to help all of their students become great spellers.  This is exactly what classroom teachers are looking for: step-by-step spelling instruction that is meaningful and relevant to their students’ needs."

- Shanalee Cannon, K-5 Literacy, Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program, N. Las Vegas, NV   

 

"As a classroom teacher I know first hand how students’ spelling in written work seems to becoming increasingly problematic.  Students often spell words phonetically which are not always spelled correctly.  It seems as if students who continue to misspell these words in their writing do not move forward, as a matter of fact very little progress is made.   I think with [Pat's] approach students will have a better grasp on the tricky word patterns and help them to make a connection to other word patterns rather than just spelling one word and then moving on to the next."

-  Karen Berecsky, Second Grade Teacher, Mill Lake, Monroe, NJ

 

 

Patricia M. Cunningham is a Professor of Education at Wake Forest University. She has over 30 years of experience, taught in various elementary grades and remedial reading, and was a curriculum coordinator and director of reading. Pat is the author or coauthor of What Really Matters in Vocabulary, What Really Matters in Writing, Classrooms That Work, Schools That Work, Phonics They Use, and the Making Words series. Her major professional goal is promoting literacy for all children. Pat currently engages in staff development across the United States.

 

About this edition

• Publisher: Pearson
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0132612224
• ISBN 13: 9780132612227
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 264