Virginia Public Schools Volume 2; Educational Tests (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1921 Excerpt: ...accuracy what these words are. Enlightened supervision of schools today places in the hands of the classroom teacher, either in the form of a scientific speller or in the form of specially prepared lists, the words that, according to educational science, should be taught to the pupils. Method. It is not only a common belief of teachers, but it is an experimentally demonstrated fact, that differences in methods of teaching are directly related to differences in spelling efficiency. In fact, it is possible today to give the classroom teacher a considerable body of definite directions for the teaching of spelling based on accurate scientific studies. In the light of these studies the following suggestions are offered: 1. Adopt a minimal essential list of words. 2. Aim at 100 per cent efficiency on this list. 3. Give not more than five new words per day. 4. When the group contains not over forty-five pupils and is sufficiently homogeneous, conduct but one spelling class for the entire group. 5. Make the period not over fifteen to twenty minutes in duration. 6. Make no provision for a study period apart from the regular recitation period. 7. If the group method of instruction is employed, conduct the work by the class-study method, in which the teacher teaches spelling prior to testing it. 8. In the presentation of words, (a) Use script, wherever possible, instead of print; (6) Avoid diacritical marks; (c) Syllabify on the initial presentation; (d) Focalize attention on the portions of words that are known to be difficult. 9. In drilling, (a) Use about half the time in practicing recall; (b) Apply the principle of multiple association; (c) Employ the principle of visualization; (d) Conduct most of the drill in the form of written, not oral, spelling; (e) Remembe...