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Do you TEACH Spelling or Give Words?

Very few teachers/schools can honestly answer we teach spelling. Some may believe they teach spelling but I beg to differ? Why do I go here? Explicit teaching of the code is fundamental for a dyslexic learner. It impacts a students ability to both Decode and Encode and provides a platform with which they do not have to employ a Glance and GUESS method when reading and writing.All of us can reflect on aspects of our teaching careers with new knowledge in tow and shudder at what once was. Well, I ...

Glance and Guess — Really?

Let’s just STOP and take some time to consider how we truly teach reading in New Zealand. If a student is having difficulty with learning to read, you the teacher are obligated to reconsider your approach. A whole word approach which encourages students to glance and guess, memorising words from day 1 is not suitable for all. Taking students to print before they have phonological awareness intact will leave them with no other option but to glance and guess. Sending a reader home and saying thi...