In response to a message to Charles on ...
WL>By the end of third grade sounded out spelling is unacceptable,
WL>and the kids know how to use dictionaries.  I think this
WL>combination works well.
It seems that neither one of us has any hard evidence to support 
their position.  Just as you rely on personal experience, so do I.  
My wife teaches 4th grade in a neighboring school district and feels 
that student performance in spelling has declined since the 
inception of "inventive spelling."  Those teachers that I work with 
in the middle school in our district concur.
If I were to hazard a guess, I'd suggest that testing results might 
prove that inventive spelling works well for talented children 
(those who can learn with or without a good teacher) and not very 
well for those who have trouble in school - rather like the evidence 
on whole language.
Nice to chat with you again.  ;-)
Chuck Beams
cbeams@dreamscape.com
http://www.dreamscape.com/cbeams
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* UniQWK #5290* America's favorite whine: "It's not my fault!"
--- Maximus 2.01wb
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