CHARLES BEAMS spoke of Re: Spelling... to ERICA LONG on 09-18-96
CB>Responding to a message by Erica, to Charles on ...
CB>EL>I get the feeling that some techers still believe that children
CB>EL>learn to read in Year 1 and should be accomplished by the end of
CB>EL>that year.
CB>Not at all, and I don't know of anyone who feels that way.  I *do* 
CB>believe that children should have high standards set for them and 
CB>that age appropriate activities should be given to them.  Asking 
CB>children to scribble on a piece of paper and then calling that 
CB>process "writing" is delusional.  Teach them to do tasks they can do 
CB>correctly, such as forming letters, spelling simple words (he, the, 
CB>at) and then forming sentences.
Don't you just love it when I butt in here??  I have never instructed a 
child to scribble on a piece of paper and then told them that is 
writing.  I have had children scribble on a piece of paper (which I have 
placed in several areas in my room) and they have read the scribblings 
to me.  Often what happens is a child will write random letters with no 
spaces and ask me to read their "writing."  I read each letter or search 
for a "real" word and point it out.  If the child wants to "pretend" to 
read I go along with it.  
I also give them experiences that include writing (copying) words that 
are phonetically predictable (cat, hat, mat, rat, dog, hog, log,) as 
well as other words.  Most of my word cards have pictures but many do 
not.  
 As you say, children are not stupid.  I think that many know they are 
not really writing when they scribble.  Even if they don't fully 
understand it at first, they will very soon.  But children do love to 
pretend (do they think they really are pouring me coffee when I visit 
the house center?  No...but I drink it anyway.  I have often eaten the 
fake food they have prepared for me.  Yesterday I had a hamburger  made 
of plastic hamburger buns and felt shapes in between....hold the pickles 
please  :)
Dan
CMPQwk 1.42 445p
Cap'n Crunch found dead- Cerial killer suspected.
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     _   /|    ACK!
     \'o.O'   /
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       U
 
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