Beginners

The beginners session was lead by Joanna to help people understand the Real Spelling approach: media type="custom" key="12482726" align="center" Joanna then lead them through an investigation of using the sequential steps to introduce them to orthographic inquiry. **Sequential Steps** 1.What does the target word MEAN ? Spelling’s defining purpose is to represent meaning: you cannot even begin to spell a word if you do not know what it means!

2. What is its STRUCTURE ? The foundation of a word’s spelling is its base. If the target word is not itself a free base, the base must first be identified.

3. What are RELATIVES ? A high priority in spelling is to signal meaning connections with, and differences from, other words. This is especially important in the case of homophones.

4. What PHONEMES can you hear in the word? Identifying a word’s phonemes is the most demanding of the orthographic processes, yet it is its last priority.

5. What GRAPHEMES are available for each phonemes and how are you going to choose between them? Proper orthographic teaching demands that students, from their earliest learning , be given information about the circumstances that govern the use of each grapheme they learn.