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Show LETRS based spelling curriculum 6 handwriting, and reading, as well as spelling. The U.S., therefore, developed their formal literature curriculum to look much like England’s (Hodges, 1977). Once the U.S. colonies were independent from England there began a new and upcoming change to education. The first prolific textbook writer was Noah Webster. He produced two dictionaries as well as a spelling, grammar, and a U.S. history book. Webster’s spellers shaped the way spelling was taught over the next century (Hodges, 1977; Schlagal, 2002). Webster asserted that in order to gain spelling ability there must be a mastery of the alphabet method, which he agreed was a tedious way to learn. He suggested in order to relieve the dull monotony of practicing spelling it should be broken up with reading lessons. He also suggested that spelling instruction is not to teach the meaning of words but children will profit by orthographic skills and memorizing, and later they will begin to understand the meaning (Hodges, 1977). The Elementary Spelling Bookwas revised by Websterin 1829, marking a significant change to more emphasis on spelling and less on grammar and reading. There was an increase of more specified spellers by different authors. The main goal of these spellers was for students to memorize a list of words, with no definition or understanding of the words themselves. Horace Mann was dissatisfied with this approach. After visiting many European countries he was convinced that a whole-word approach was superior to the alphabet method. He also believed that the spelling curriculum should be designed with three principles: the ease of their use, the pleasure it afforded the students, and the ability to foster student’s progress (Hodges, 1977). There was a scientific movement at the end of the 19th century that began to produce much criticism of formal education. Many people wanted to start using science to find solutions to better educate children. This was the era of educational studies. Dr. Joseph M. Rice did a study in 1887 of about 33,000 students on spelling achievement. His study was instrumental in |
