“When we give every student worksheets to learn phonics and spelling, we miss opportunities to get our students excited about words and fail to give them the opportunity to meet the high standards represented by the Common Core Standards. Our students need instruction that makes them think and helps them apply their word knowledge to real reading and writing situations.”
—Jennifer Palmer and Marcia Invernizzi
We want students to be curious about how words work and develop strategies that work whether they are decoding words or spelling them. And our jobs would be easier if students couldn’t wait for word study.
Yet so many classrooms are stuck in the cycle of unengaging, one-size fits all phonics and spelling worksheets.
Reading specialist Jennifer Palmer and literacy researcher Marcia Invernizzi offer better, more effective, more engaging practices. Their suggestions lead kids to not only make progress during word study but also to transfer what they learn about words to their reading and writing. No More Phonics and Spelling Worksheets show us:
- why skill-and-drill methods and worksheets cause children to struggle or disengage
- the kinds of teaching that research shows actually works
- instructional ideas for word study can put to use right away.
“We can cast off one-size-fits-all factory instruction and try a more useful practice,” write Jennifer and Marcia, “meeting each child where s/he is.” Pick up No More Phonics and Spelling Worksheets, discover practices that better support literacy growth, and help everyone make progress.
