How Words Cast Their Spell
Spelling Is an Integral Part of Learning the Language, Not a Matter of Memorization
By R. Malatesha Joshi, Rebecca Treiman, Suzanne Carreker, and Louisa C. Moats
(This article is available in PDF format only)

To those who haven't had the benefit of language-based spelling instruction, English spelling seems terribly confusing—so many sounds with multiple spellings (e.g., eight and ate) and so many spellings with multiple sounds (e.g., the ch in church and chorus). It's no wonder that spelling instruction often focuses on memorization, with flashcards and weekly quizzes. But researchers have found that there is a better way. By emphasizing the sound-letter correspondences and then adding in some history of the language, spelling instruction becomes more effective—and improves students' reading and writing too.

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Freshly spread dirt covered the cobblestone street in front of the Pennsylvania State House, protecting the men inside from the sound of passing carriages and carts. Guards stood at the entrances to ensure that the curious were kept at a distance. Robert Morris of Pennsylvania, the "financier" of the Revolution, opened the proceedings with a nomination--Gen. George Washington for the presidency of the Constitutional Convention. The vote was unanimous. With characteristic ceremonial modesty, the general expressed his embarrassment at his lack of qualifications to preside over such an august body and apologized for any errors into which he might fall in the course of its deliberations.

Few Colorado residents have ever glanced at the Colorado Constitution. Probably only a handful has ever read its entirety.

Yet the constitution impacts our lives every day. A constitution sets out the rules by which we play the game of government. Like the rules for any other game, it limits the moves available to players. It describes how the various players interact with each other, and who has more power in various situations.