• Scientific Spelling

    Scientific Spelling is a curriculum that explicitly teaches students to spell by translating sounds into letters or letter clusters using the reliable patterns and rules of the English language. Students learn to analyze words and group them into like categories for ease in learning.  The S.O.S. (Save Our Spelling) procedure systematically segments the spelling process into single sounds, syllables, and base words.  The irregular word procedure provides a structure for students to store high frequency “sight” words that do not follow a pattern into their memory for quick retrieval. Finally, students are taught scripts to identify criteria and look for patterns to apply one of the 7 spelling rules in our English language. 

    The ability to analyze and categorize words into three types-regular, rule, and irregular-facilitates the learning of the target words, aids the retention of the words, and reinforces basic spelling information. Students do not learn to memorize a given list of words, but rather they learn how to spell. 

    The goal of Scientific Spelling is threefold:

    • Students will learn the reliable patterns and rules of the English language.
    • Students will learn and apply a multisensory strategy, which will lead to a permanent memorization of words that do not follow the patterns or rules.
    • Students will learn to analyze words as regular, rule, or irregular.