When it comes to supporting struggling readers in upper elementary school, it’s essential to employ targeted strategies that address their specific needs. In this blog post, we will explore three highly effective techniques: using phonics booklets that delve into spelling skills, implementing a Word of the Day spelling routine, and implementing a daily shared writing routine. These strategies not only enhance reading proficiency but also empower students by providing them with the tools to understand the “why” behind spelling patterns.
The Power of Targeted Phonics Booklets
Phonics Booklets: The Basics
Phonics is the foundation of reading, and for struggling readers in upper elementary grades, it’s crucial to reinforce these skills. Phonics booklets are an excellent resource to achieve this. They are designed to target specific phonic and spelling skills, making learning more focused and engaging.
Targeted Approach
Phonics booklets are carefully structured to address various spelling patterns, rules, and exceptions. This targeted approach helps struggling readers concentrate on specific areas of difficulty, making learning more manageable.
Understanding the "WHY"
One of the key strengths of phonics booklets is that they go beyond rote memorization. They teach students the “why” behind spelling patterns, helping them make connections and understand the logic of language. This comprehension empowers students to become more independent readers and spellers.
Word of the Day Spelling Routine
Word of the Day: A Multisyllabic Approach
Multisyllabic words can be intimidating for struggling readers. Implementing the Word of the Day Word Study Routine can demystify these complex words and boost students’ confidence.
Analyze and Deconstruct
Each day, introduce a new multisyllabic word. Encourage students to analyze it, breaking it down into syllables, identifying prefixes, roots, and spelling patterns. This analytical approach not only enhances spelling skills but also expands vocabulary.
Daily Consistency
Consistency is key to any successful learning routine. By focusing on one word a day, students have the opportunity to delve deep into its structure. Over time, they accumulate a strong arsenal of tools to deconstruct multisyllabic words, which significantly improves their reading and writing abilities.
The "Big Cheese" Daily Shared Writing Routine
In our quest to support struggling readers in upper elementary grades, we’ve explored the power of phonics booklets and the Word of the Day spelling routine. Now, let’s introduce another invaluable strategy: the “Big Cheese” Daily Shared Writing Routine.
Fostering Collaboration
The “Big Cheese” routine promotes collaboration and active participation among students. Each day, students work alongside their teacher to craft sentences about their classmates. This not only enhances their writing skills but also fosters a sense of community within the classroom.
Modeling Correct Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation
One of the significant advantages of this routine is that it provides a real-time platform for modeling correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation. As students contribute ideas for the sentence, the teacher writes it down, reinforcing proper language usage.
Interactive Learning
The interactive nature of the “Big Cheese” routine engages students in the writing process. They actively think about sentence structure, word choice, and grammar rules as they collaborate with their peers and teacher. This hands-on approach is particularly beneficial for struggling readers and English language learners, as it provides practical application of language skills.
Practicing and Reinforcing
After the teacher writes down the sentence, the learning doesn’t stop there. Students then practice by copying the sentence correctly into their own notebooks. This step serves multiple purposes:
Reinforcement: Repetition is key to learning. By copying the sentence, students reinforce correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Ownership: Writing the sentence in their own notebooks gives students a sense of ownership over their learning, boosting their confidence.
Reference: Students can refer back to their notebooks to review previously learned sentences, creating a valuable resource for future writing tasks.
Supporting struggling readers in upper elementary grades requires tailored strategies that empower students to grasp the “why” behind spelling patterns and develop essential reading skills. Phonics booklets and the Word of the Day spelling routine offer effective solutions. The “Big Cheese” Daily Shared Writing Routine is a powerful tool for supporting struggling readers in upper elementary grades. It not only enhances writing skills but also reinforces correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation while fostering a sense of community and empathy within the classroom. By combining this routine with phonics booklets and the Word of the Day spelling routine, educators can create a holistic approach to literacy that empowers all students to excel in their reading and writing journeys.
