Automatic Spelling (AS) uses scaffolding in several ways.
* AS continually repeats what is easy. (Remember the Easy +1 idea?) Each list contains 7 new spelling words which are repeated 3 times in a grid of 60 words. That leaves almost 40 words that are review from previous lessons.
* AS teaches spelling rules, which are repeated in every lesson. It takes a while, but the students memorize the rules and learn to identify which rules each spelling word follows.
* AS teaches students to identify phonograms. This helps tremendously in helping students master letter order within a word. If you have a student who cannot remember whether a word is spelled with an ae or an ea, learning the phonograms will help. (For example, is it baer or bear? We know that bear uses the ea phonogram.)
* AS teaches students to memorize the definitions of homophones so that they can use the word correctly. It only introduces one of the homophones in a homophone pair or triad to allow students to master that meaning and spelling before learning the other words and definitions with the same sound. For example, students learn to spell "a location" where and practice it for several days before learning "to put something on" wear. After they have practiced both words, they start to use them in dictation sentences. The teacher might read, "Where did I wear that coat?" and the students will be able to use both words correctly.
* AS teaches students how to pluralize, use possessives, and add suffixes with every word possible. They practice this over and over again until it becomes automatic. Check out this great
Help your student lay a firm foundation in spelling, build upon that foundation, and soar into new heights with Automatic Spelling!
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