How to teach: English - Chris Curtis 2019

Homework – lists
How to teach accuracy

We try to help students improve their spellings in lessons, but for the student this is often a passive process. They are dependent on the teacher and expecting a magical external cure for their spelling affliction. I like to make students take responsibility. In addition to a regular list of spellings, I get students to write down each mistake they make.

We all know the importance of repetition, but there’s more we can do to support their spelling. I give students a blank sheet of paper and get them to write down their frequent spelling errors. This can be done as a booklet or a bookmark, anything really. The student can then use this as an aide-memoire. Instead of digging deep into the recesses of their brain, they can quickly look at the sheet when they are writing. They can do this again and again. They can add new words and cross off words that they have learned. To get the message across even more, I ask students to make a copy and put it on their bedroom wall. So before they go to bed, while they are praying for another English teacher, they can quickly test themselves. It is all about familiarity and repetition. There are numerous ways to help students to remember certain words, but seeing them spelt correctly and knowing there is a sheet to consult helps to reinforce the correct form.