Using the Brain to Spell: Effective Strategies for All Levels

"Using the Brain to Spell is an engaging, sensible, and accessible work grounded in theory and practice. Burkhardt embraces whole language with a vengeance and makes language learning fun for both students and teachers. In her discussion of `guessing games,' she inductively foregrounds logical rules for hands-on exercises that let students teach themselves with teacher guidance. But she does not offer readers panaceas; instead, she offers us practical advice, tempered with student-centered wisdom."---William E. Smith, professor of English and coordinator of professional and technical writing. Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington (from the foreword)

"The book is a unique, readable, and energetic compilation of teaching ideas.... The author advocates making spelling fun with lots of games, but the suggested activities all have pedagogical goals based on research and experience."---Patricia Mcalexander, Ph.D., retired professor of English, University of Georgia

"From an administrator's point of view, I believe this book provides teachers multiple strategies to increase spelling effectiveness for struggling spellers. The many games, techniques, grammar, vocabulary, mechanics, reading and writing skills, word lists, and spelling guidelines discussed will certainly suggest ideas to better challenge poor spellers to become more proficient. [This book] gives a subjective plan in solving the spelling puzzle in working with students of all ages."---William C. Zwick, Ed.D., principal, The Villages Charter High School, The Villages, Florida

"Now I have the tools with [this] book to make [my students] more confident and love the language."---Keith Bauman, honors English teacher, The Villages Charter High School, The Villages, Florida

"The logical spelling strategies in this book do not stifle students; instead they help them to be successful spellers and writers."---Kimberly Wittenberger, second-grade teacher, The Villages Charter Elementary Schools, The Villages, Florida

Sally E. Burkhardt is a retired English teacher who taught in the middle grades for more than fourteen years. She also served as a fellow in the 1985 Capital Writing Project at Virginia Commonwealth University.