Can You Read What We Wrote?

We want our students to be risk takers when it comes to word choice, but young writers often stop taking risks when they discover that there is only one right way to spell a word. Without encouragement, they tend to settle for shorter, simpler words they know how to spell. They hesitate to use the best words because they don't want to spell them wrong.

To counteract this, first grade teacher Michelle Turanchick at Converse Elementary School (Converse, IN) created a "Who Can Read Our Words?" bulletin board. Students stretched the spelling of big words all by themselves. They posted them on the board with a sign-up sheet asking teachers to write their names if they could read the words. What a great way to encourage bigger, better word choice!