Ch. 7 Be Efficient and Integrate Basic Skills

Experience before label, a well known theme in brain based learning. We need to do the same for writing. Expose the children to a concept or skill and let them experience it before you ever attach a label or tell them the "skill" you're wanting them to learn. This chapter also discussed spelling expectations. I agree when Regie states that, "It is reasonable to expect students to be able to spell a bank of frequently used words correctly, even in drafts." I experienced this when I taught 2nd grade in another district. They used the Sitton Spelling Program and as 2nd graders there were 30 "No Excuse" words. They were the the first 30 Dolch high frequency words. The 3rd graders then had 40 words and each year there were 10 words added. Although the Sitton Program has been criticized in other ways, I truly witnessed that kids can and should be expected to have a bank of words that they are expected to spell correctly.