THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING VOCABULARY

SPELLING: THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING VOCABULARY

In the modern world of technology and globalization, communication has become increasingly important.

Main ideas about teaching Spelling:

Teachers must have a genuine interest in words, their origin, meaning and an understanding of phonological awareness to avoid being ineffective and ignorant of struggling students. Teachers need to be guided on how to prioritize and organize their lessons so that spelling is woven into the lesson rather then left to incidental learning.Technology assistance can have a positive influence on a child’s ability to spell

How important is vocabulary for school kids? According to researchers, vocabulary is very important. So much, that it is a fact that the acquisition of vocabulary for any student is largely linked to achieving school success; hence, the need to increase vocabulary with its meaning in the years of rapid acquisition of language (up to their teens). The quicker a child builds up a large bank of words, the quicker the understanding of what he or she hears or reads in school.

The acquiring of vocabulary of any language has many purposes. One, is that those who are interacting in the communication process share a common set of signs for a reciprocal understanding of what is being delivered.Two, that the sender of the message expresses clearly and fully his or her intended message, idea, etc., so that the receiver captures the essence of what is being delivered.

Key understandings, skills and knowledge around teaching spelling:

*Visual perception and Visual memory *Ability to internalize and remember visual characteristics of words

*Phonological Awareness

*Auditory Discrimination

*Segmentation

*Phoneme Blending

*Rhyming Alliteration

*Isolation

*Exchanging Orthographic Awareness *Morphological Awareness

Multiple perspectives of teaching spelling can widen and deepen your understanding. Teaching spelling strategies is an essential element of a spelling program. Some students will find spelling comes naturally. Teaching spelling is about teaching students about words, how they are formulated, their patterns and rules . There is not one correct way to teach spelling.

What will this look like in the classroom? : Most students will have begun to associate some sounds with letters when they start school. Students need to be allowed to progress without fear of error. Students will often learn to identify when a word is spelled incorrectly from their spelling mistakes. Teachers should model spelling and spelling strategies. Teachers can observe and record which strategies students respond better.

HOW IMPORTANT IS SPELLING?

Spelling is a vital part of the educational process because learning to read, write, spell and express one’s thoughts accurately in writing is essential for a literate society. Vocabulary, not grammar, tends to be more important in sending messages. The message may not be grammatically correct; however, if the right productive vocabulary was included and delivered in the message (like in a telegraphic message), the message will be received and understood by the recipient because it has the right necessary words.

Spelling developmental stages:

Stage 1: Pre-Phonemic Imitation of writing, by copying down letters and inventing random strands of letters. Stage 2: Early phonetic connection is made, that letters actually make sounds through direct and incidental learning. Stage 3: Phonetic, children can identify sounds within words and some common orthographic units. Stage 4 : Transitional rely on cover, write, check, and guide their spelling, based on known words. Stage 5: Independence, mastered most of the grapho-phonic principles and high proof reading skills.