Guide to Spelling: Hooked on Phonics
Quick and Dirty Tricks of the Trade
Whatever your level of skill, you can benefit from the following eight time-tested spelling tricks. They're easy—and they work. Try them all, or pick and choose the ones that suit your needs.
1. Classify errors. Why not specialize? Figure out what words pose the most trouble for you and concentrate on those errors. For example, if you have a problem with words that contain ie, study the “ie” rule and concentrate on the words that follow the rules and the major exceptions.
2. Break words down into smaller parts. For example, to spell bookkeeper, break the word down to its two parts: book and keeper. Then you won't forget there's a double k in the middle of the word.
3. Do word puzzles and games. There are many different kinds to choose from, including crosswords, acrostics, Scrabble, and Boggle. Each type of word puzzle or game gives you practice in spelling. As a bonus, doing puzzles also teaches you vocabulary. So what if it includes some useless words? You want, maybe, everything?
4. Use dictionaries. I know, I know, looking up a word is a pain. So is exercise, but they both work. Using a dictionary will help you remember a word's spelling and its exact meaning.
5. Try air writing. No, it's not a New Age crystal thing; it's what Miss Nelson taught you in the fourth grade. To check the spelling of a word or to learn the spelling of an unfamiliar word, try writing it in the air.
6. Guess and check. It's a free country; you're allowed to guess. To check the spelling of a word, make a guess. Write it down and see how it looks. If the planets are aligned, you'll be able to see if you're right or wrong. You'll probably also be able to see where you went wrong: omitted letter, double letter, wrong letter.
7. Use word cards. Those flash cards you used in elementary school still work quite nicely with spelling, thank you very much.
Try this three-step plan:
As you read through this section, write each difficult-to-spell word on a 3×5 index card, one word per card.
Study the cards every chance you get.
Take them with you on the bus, train, and plane; hide them in your lap and sneak a peek during dull meetings.
8. Visualize. Think about how the word is spelled; get a clear mental picture of the word. This will help you remember the word and spell it correctly in the future.
One last little trick:
Mnemonics are memory tricks that help you remember everything from the order of the planets to your grocery list. For example, to remember how to spell principal, look at the last three letters: the principal is your pal. Principle, in contrast, ends in le, like rule (which is what principle means). Create your own mnemonics to conquer spelling demons.
Excerpted from The Complete Idiot's Guide to Grammar and Style © 2003
Parent Traffic Alert Note from the Superintendent:
Parent Traffic Alert
Dear Parents:
We desperately need your help and cooperation to bring order to the
automobile traffic on the Lakeview Campus. This past school year we have
had several dangerous incidents such as cars driving in the bus lanes, cars
driving on the sidewalks, and parents dropping off children away from
designated drop-off zones where children have to cross traffic. To protect our
students, we need your cooperation and adherence to the established traffic
plan which is attached to this letter.
When it is not possible for your child to ride the school bus please observe the
following traffic rules while operating your automobile on the Lakeview
Campus:
• Never drive in the BUS LANE.
• Prairieview student drop off is clearly marked in the east parking lot.
DO NOT drop your child off in the front traffic circle where they must
cross the bus lane.
• Parking in the front traffic circle is restricted to BACC student drop-off
and school visitors.
• Lakeview student drop off is at the rear of the school. PLEASE pull all
the way up to the end of the sidewalk so that the other automobiles are
not forced to block the bus lane.
• PLEASE drive slowly and carefully through the parking lot area as
many students who walk to school cross through the parking lot.
• The traffic pattern after student drop off is to proceed west until the
fence and then south until the second row of cars where you may turn
east to exit.
• NEVER turn left upon entering the Lakeview parking lot. Please
follow the pattern above.
• Remember when exiting the Lakeview Campus that the stoplight will
activate more quickly if your front tire is 2 feet in front of the marked
stop line.
Thanks you for your cooperation. Let's have a Safe and Smooth traffic year.
Sincerely,
Jay Tiede, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
