{"id":11544,"date":"2023-10-01T09:00:52","date_gmt":"2023-10-01T14:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.allaboutlearningpress.com\/?p=11544"},"modified":"2023-10-13T16:41:25","modified_gmt":"2023-10-13T21:41:25","slug":"spelling-rule-breakers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.allaboutlearningpress.com\/spelling-rule-breakers\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Handle Spelling Rule Breakers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Learning how to spell words that don\u2019t follow the rules can be \u2026 well boring<\/em>. And we can\u2019t have that! <\/p>\r\n\r\n

In All About Spelling<\/em><\/a>, we\u2019ve labeled unruly words like said<\/em>, who<\/em>, and been<\/em> as \u201cRule Breakers,\u201d and we\u2019ve created several motivating ways to make learning to spell these words a bit easier \u2026 and a lot more fun!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\"The<\/a>\r\n\r\n

When your student encounters a Rule Breaker in All About Spelling<\/cite> (or the real world!), just reach for one of these activities and let the fun begin!<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\"Feed<\/a>\r\n

Feed the Rule Breaker to the puppy!<\/h3>\r\n \r\n

When you encounter a word that breaks the rules, this adorable puppy is ready to help you deal with the misbehaving word! Download our Feed the Puppy <\/em>activity<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"Jail<\/a>\r\n

Throw the Rule Breaker in jail!<\/h3>\r\n \r\n

A short time out just might help control those Rule Breakers. Download our Jail for Rule Breakers<\/em> activity<\/a>. <\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n

Have an older student?<\/strong> Older kids like these treatments of unruly words just as much as younger ones do, so pick your favorite and see how those tricky words stick in their minds!<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\r\n\r\n

Two More Ways to Handle Rule Breakers<\/h1>\r\n\r\n
    \r\n
  1. \r\n

    Writing Intensive<\/h3>\r\n
      \r\n

    1. Look at the Word Card and then look at an empty spot on the table.<\/span><\/p><\/li>\r\n

    2. Picture the word on the table and spell the word aloud three times<\/span>.<\/p><\/li>\r\n

    3. Using a finger, \u201cwrite\u201d the word on the table three times in VERY BIG LETTERS.<\/span><\/p><\/li>\r\n

    4. Spell the word on paper three times.<\/span><\/p><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n

      In the space of a minute or two, your student will have practiced the word nine times.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/li>\r\n

    5. \r\n

      Tactile Practice<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

      In this exercise, your student \u201cwrites\u201d the Rule Breaker on a tactile surface<\/a>, using his pointer finger instead of a pencil. Some surfaces to consider include:<\/p>\r\n

        \r\n

      1. Sand in a shoe box lid<\/span><\/p><\/li>\r\n

      2. \tA sheet of fine sandpaper<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/li>\r\n

      3. \u201cFeely\u201d fabrics such as burlap, velvet, or corduroy<\/span><\/p><\/li>\r\n

      4. Salt poured into a baking pan<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/li>\r\n

      5. Plush carpet square<\/span><\/p><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

        We treat Rule Breakers differently from other words to help kids learn them soon after they are introduced. Two effective ways to burn something into memory are frequency (repeated review) and intensity (different and surprising treatment), so keep these ideas in mind as you handle the Rule Breakers. Doing whatever it takes to enable your student to spell these words correctly right from the start will prevent problems later.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

        Most Words Do<\/span> Follow the Rules<\/h1>\r\n\r\n

        Thankfully, the vast majority of spelling words do follow consistent patterns. And when kids first start out, we are careful to work only with words that follow the rules. This helps kids internalize the fact that there are reliable rules and that they can make sense of spelling. They discover that they don\u2019t need to resort to guessing<\/a> or memorizing strings of letters.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

        So before introducing the first Rule Breakers, make sure your student can spell hundreds of \u201claw-abiding\u201d words. Then\u2014and only then\u2014begin teaching the unruly ones.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

        Which spelling words cause your student the most difficulty? Let me know in the comments, and then download my free e-book called \u201cSix Ways We Make Spelling Easy<\/a>\u201d below!<\/p>\r\n\r\n

        \"Six<\/a><\/span>