Teaching Memory Cues for Spelling
Betsy B. Lee
For Grades PreK-12
Purpose: To learn memory strategies for spelling.
Materials: pencil and paper; examples on the following page of the Learning Abilities Books site: http://www.geocities.com/learningabilitiesbooks/xLPspelling.html
Procedure:
- The basic memory principle in this lesson plan is to have students associate, or link, something they need to remember to something they already know. It might be a silly association or a logical association. it just needs to be a memorable association.
- Cues need to be relevant, non-ambiguous associations. For instance:
Do is in the word does
Ear is in the word hear, meaning to listen.
Here is spelled like there as in here and there.
Your has our in it. Think of your and our books, house, or whatever.
You’re is a contraction for the two words, you are.
Many more helpful examples are on the Learning Abilities Books website (see source).
- Once students are introduced to this concept, they can often contribute great ideas. Ask for their ideas but make sure to guide them to use cues that are relevant, non-ambiguous associations.
