Emily, Louisa and Ammon at the Old Hundred Gold Mine in Silverton, Colorado
No wonder English is so difficult to learn!
We must polish the Polish furniture.
He could lead if he would get the lead out.
The farm used to produce produce.
Spelling Clues
by
My daughter Louisa (15)
English is a beautiful language! It is the language of the Kings James Version of the Bible. It is the language of Shakespeare. Then, why—oh, why can’t we spell?
Over the years of teaching my 7 children to write, I wonder if perhaps I have seen nearly every misspelling known to man. Tomorrow, friends, though, a lot . . . these common words can be quite challenging. I don’t claim to any system of success, but I do know that giving kids a memory clue can help a great deal! Here are just a few of the clues I have discovered that help my kids spell better:
"I" Before "E", But Not After "C"
by
The word “separate” has “a rat” in it. Remember this spelling tip and you’ll always spell it correctly!
I am a product of the public schools of the 1960’s. I was taught the spelling ditty: “i” before “e” but not after “c”, and a host of other rules. Spelling rules seem to be made for the logical, perhaps, mathematical minds (not mine), but I am a good speller. How does that work?
Pronunciation Poem
by
Pronunciation Poem
I take it you already know
Of tough and bough and cough and dough?
Others may stumble, but not you,
On hiccough, thorough, laugh, and through.
Well done! And now you wish perhaps,
To learn of less familiar traps?
Beware of heard, a dreadful word,
That looks like beard and sounds like bird.
And dead—it’s said like bed not bead—
And for goodness’ sake, don’t call it deed!
Watch out for meat and great and threat
(they rhyme with suite and straight and debt).
