What are the best spelling practices supported by research?
Not surprisingly, there is no single best method for teaching spelling. Students learn to spell from their reading, where they continually see words spelled conventionally. They also learn to spell while writing, as they use various strategies in attempting to spell unfamiliar words. They also learn to examine and explore word patterns and relationships outside of their reading and writing. The following practices have been shown by research to show improvement in students overall spelling abilities. Students learn best in an environment conducive to positive self-esteem and active learning. Students learn those things they discover for themselves and thus have a personal understanding, more than those things they are told and expected to remember. The errors students make as they write are neither random nor thoughtless. When examined diagnostically, they reveal systematic application of the childs level of understanding. Spelling is more successful when it is taught in short periods
