High Frequency Words: Strategies That Build Skills in Spelling, Vocabulary, and Word Play

Lori A. Dunn is an ESL teacher, instructional designer, and freelance
writer in New Westminster.

High Frequency Words is a collection of mini-lesson plans for teaching
spelling of the 60-plus high frequency words, and their related words,
using a method that incorporates a variety of learning styles. The
author points out that spelling is “the result of an inherent brain
function.” Thus, students of all learning types must be accommodated
in the process of learning this skill. He suggests incorporating all of
the various intelligences—verbal-linguistic, mathematical,
visual-spatial, kinaesthetic, musical, interpersonal, and
intrapersonal—throughout the lessons.

After discussing some theories of learning and spelling, Marland jumps
into the meat of the text: the lessons. The lesson plan on “good”
exemplifies the simplicity and creativity of these lessons. First of
all, the teacher has the students talk about their favourite cookies.
Then, drawing one “cookie” on the board (a circle), the teacher
points out to the students that one cookie is okay, but two would be
better. When the second cookie is drawn, the teacher remarks that a
third would be fine (drawing it as well). The teacher then draws the
fourth cookie and says, “But four are good.” Next, the children are
shown how to draw the hook for the “g” and the stick for the
“d”. The mnemonic of “Four cookies are good” is stressed as a
visual cue to remind students of the spelling.

High Frequency Words would be a useful resource for a primary teachers
just starting out.