Two years ago, I remember helping a student I tutor at M.O.M.I.E's TLC (nonprofit organization partnered with DC Reads). She had memorized all of the spelling words by heart, but when asked what they meant, she didn't know. When asked why she didn't know what the spelling words meant, she responded: "My teacher doesn't care about me defining what the words means, she just wants me to spell!" This lead to me question what they were doing in the 6th grade at Paul M.S. that they didn't emphasize that the children needed to learn what the words meant, but just focused only how to spell them.
In expanding a child's vocabulary and knowledge, it is important for them to, not only be able to spell the words, but have an understanding of what the word means so that they are able to use the vocabulary word in their everyday language. If the children do not understand what the words mean, they cannot incorporate it into their vocabulary, and the whole lesson goes to waste. Students need to learn how to use them in context, so other learners/readers can understand what he or she saying in their writing. At practicum, while students are doing independent work, students always ask me how to spell this and that. It's annoying but they want to learn, they want to know! However, I am not their spell check robot. How can we, educators, teach students to self-monitor themselves and learn to memorize to spelling words at the same time have them keep in mind as to how to use them, as well?
This may sound detach from what I said above, but I want to mention that some may argue that with the increase of technology, such as spell check, spelling is becoming obsolete. I would argue, however, that spelling is now more important as ever, in the increase of written communications rather than verbal. Personally, there is nothing more embarrassing than misspelling a word on document that will be sent to a professor or employer. Although some might argue that they have little to no experience with spelling, we subconsciously spell everyday. Just think about all the words that we have to spell each day. We spell in letters, emails, text messages, even when writing blog posts! Increasing a student's knowledge, vocabulary and mastery in spelling of those vocabulary words is essential for their future, as they will need to spell constantly in order to communicate with others.
I agree that spelling is so important. When I think about studying linguistics in undergrad as a part of anthropology, it's just not ever going to be obsolete. Language, the use of words, how words have changed over time, their meaning, their origins, oh my! It's so interesting to me I can salivate just thinking about Rosetta Stone.
ReplyDeleteI think I've made it clear that I agree that spelling is not obsolete. However, what I gained from the articles was that (like you also said) weekly spelling tests with rote memorization turns students away from spelling, not towards gaining a better understanding of larger concepts.
I also think you have a good point about the practical need for spelling as well.