Many teachers are frustrated with not only how spelling traditionally is taught, but also with finding time to support young spellers with explicit strategy instruction. Author Mark Weakland developed Super Spellers: Seven Steps to Transforming Your Spelling Instruction , an approach to teaching spelling in a way that is research-based, focused, developmentally appropriate, and tied to authentic reading and writing. Super Spellers first helps teachers understand what their students need through frequent formative assessments. The book then focuses on the scope of spelling instruction and goes deeper into teaching more words and directly teaching spelling strategies to increase students’ word-solving skills. Once kids are comfortable and competent spellers they become super readers and writers, too. In addition to step-by-step guidance, each chapter features an “If you only have 10 minutes” segment with suggestions for things you can implement immediately and a list of PD questions. The appendix contains word inventories, a sample scope and sequence, examples of spelling list transformation, and word ladder activities.
