By Marcia K. Henry, Ph.D.

With this innovative book, educators will help students from prekindergarten to middle school and beyond learn to read and spell accurately — and they’ll get a refresher course on language skills and structure so they can teach students with confidence. Designed for preservice and in-service general and special educators, this book offers a wide range of teaching strategies that integrate two interlocking skills: decoding and spelling. Teachers will

• sharpen their knowledge of three basic concepts for decoding words and spelling them: letter-sound correspondences, syllable patterns, and morpheme patterns
  
  
• expand students’ literacy skills and knowledge by increasing their awareness and understanding of the origins of English words, affixes, roots and combining forms, multisyllabic words, and abstract concepts
  
  
• boost early literacy and language development by helping students develop print awareness and phonological awareness through letter naming, letter forming, and listening and speaking activities such as poetry and play
  
  
• begin formal reading and writing instruction by teaching students to identify, understand and use common consonant and vowel patterns, syllables, common spelling rules, prefixes and suffixes, roots, non-phonetic words, and contractions
  
  
• deepen students’ proficiency with language by introducing less common Latin roots and Greek combining forms, new words entering the English language, and lessons built around themes such as calendars and mythology

Filled with classroom activities suitable for use with English language learners, lesson plans incorporating multisensory language-based instruction, samples of student work, explanations of current research, and extensive word lists, this book will help unlock literacy in ways both teachers and students will enjoy.

About the Author
Foreword
Robert Calfee
Preface
Acknowledgments


I. Preparation

1. Decoding and Spelling: Keys to Unlocking Literacy

• The Continuum of Integrated Decoding and Spelling Instruction
  
  
• Approaches to Decoding and Spelling Instruction
  
  
• Current Research and Implications for Instruction
  

2. A Brief History of the English Language

• Historical Milestones
  

3. Structure of the English Language

• Anglo-Saxon Layer of Language
  
  
• Latin Layer of Language
  
  
• Greek Layer of Language
  

II. Instruction

4. Lesson Fundamentals

• Metacognitive Aspects of Reading and Spelling
  
  
• Multisensory Instruction
  
  
• Lesson Procedures in a Discussion Format
  
  
• Sample Lessons
  

5. First Steps: Early Instruction for Effective Decoding and Spelling

• Preschool
  
  
• Kindergarten
  
  
• Phonological Awareness Activities
  
  
• Beginning to Read and Write
  

6. Beginning Readers: Time for the Anglo-Saxon Layer of Language

• Consonants
  
  
• Vowels
  
  
• Spelling Rules
  
  
• Recommendations for Spelling
  
  
• Irregular Words
  
  
• Syllables
  
  
• Morpheme Patterns
  
  
• Interventions for Fluency
  
  
• Reinforcement at Home
  

7. Advancing Readers: Time for the Latin and Greek Layers of Language

• Common Morphemes
  
  
• Beyond Phonics
  
  
• Latin Roots
  
  
• Greek Combining Forms
  
  
• Practice Reading and Spelling Longer Words
  

8. Competent Readers: Extending the Latin and Greek Layers of Language

• Less Common Latin Roots
  
  
• Less Common Greek Combining Forms
  
  
• Thematic Units
  
  
• New Words Entering the English Language
  

References

Appendices

A. Surveys of Language Knowledge

B. Nonphonetic Rote Memory Word Lists

C. Compound Words

D. Prefixes

E. Suffixes

F. Latin Roots

G. Greek Combining Forms

H. Words Commonly Found in Textbooks

I. Glossary