Return-Path: <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id f82DDRf09747; Sun, 2 Sep 2001 09:13:27 -0400 (EDT) Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2001 09:13:27 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <20010902130922.77659.qmail@web10106.mail.yahoo.com> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Dulany Alexander <dulanyalex@yahoo.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:2005] RE: online teaching question X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Status: O Content-Length: 3759 Lines: 114 I agree that building a literacy habit through reading is key. Forgive me, also for stating the obvious, but if the student wants to learn to write, sooner or later he has to start writing, too. One trick is to invent reasons to write. A freewriting journal is one. Drawing or taking pictures (or cutting out pictures) that have some interest and captioning them is one. Buy the student a 'single use' camera and use it up for a pool of pictures that have personal meaning. Scan them onto the computer where you can take advantage of MS Word's right-click spellcheck correction options. Write letters of praise or complaint about products. Get an email account from yahoo and correspond with the tutor or other students. Much as I loathed it myself, most of my students adore dictations. One of my more organized colleagues has a weekly spelling lists/tests tied to a current topic. Etc. Good luck. Dulany ALexander Operation Bootstrap Lynn, MA --- "Popham, Karyn" <KPopham@sph.uth.tmc.edu> wrote: > Nancy Hansen wants resources for a student who's > above beginning reading > but wants to learn to spell and write. > > Forgive me for stating the obvious, but what's wrong > with children's > books? > > Some "children's" books are some of the best reading > I know. I offer "A > Wrinkle in Time" as an example. > > There are also what is known in the trade as hi/lo > books: hi interest, > low ability. These are typically written for high > school students who > are many grade levels below par in reading. > > The best preparation for good spelling and good > writing, in my opinion, > is reading good books. At one point I was told that > good spellers almost > invariably spell by writing down the options for > spelling a word and > picking the one that "looks right". I think much of > spelling is > unconsciously absorbed while reading. It can be > learned by rote, but > it's easier--and perhaps more effective--if that > rote is built on a > visual familiarity. > > Find out what the man is interested in: children's > non-fiction is one of > the best-kept secrets out there. Many editors have > learned the trick > that if they have to get "up to speed" on a new > topic quickly, the best > place to start is the children's section of the > library. If he'd prefer > to read fiction, so much the better. But either way, > get the man > reading. Then ask him to write about what he finds > interesting in what > he's read. > > I just realized that by "learning to write" Nancy > may have meant > literally learning how to put pen to paper to form > the characters. > Whoops. If that's the ticket, may I suggest > exploring some Montessori > materials? Once one understands the principles > behind them, one can > adapt relatively inexpensive items to the task. > > Also, in these days of computer fonts and laser > printers, one has an > option our teachers didn't: you can convert text > into a "handwriting" > font. Again, the idea is that one can develop visual > familiarity with > the pattern before one learns how to create this > pattern: in this case, > the pattern is of letters rather than (for spelling) > the pattern of > words. It turns out that for small children, it's > much easier to write a > cursive hand than to print--there are so many fewer > stops and starts and > repositionings of the pen! Adults have a different > level of motor > control and tendency to perseverate, so this might > not hold true for > them. But it would be interesting to see. > > If I'm out in left field, I apologize. > > Cheers, > Karyn Popham > Houston __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com
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