Unlocking Literacy: Effective Decoding and Spelling Instruction

Unlocking Literacy gives pre- and inservice educators recent research and practical guidance on teaching good reading and spelling skills. Developed for general and special educators of students from pre-kindergarten to middle school and beyond, the new edition of this best-selling book arms teachers with the most recent developments in reading research and shows them how to apply their knowledge in the classroom to help all students learn.

Focusing on two interlocking skills —decoding and spelling—this textbook gets teachers ready to:

• promote students' print awareness and phonological awareness through letter naming, letter forming, and listening and speaking activities such as poetry and play
• improve students' spelling skills by teaching the origins of English words, Anglo-Saxon base words, Latin affixes and roots, Greek combining forms, and multisyllabic words
• help students understand and correctly use the components of the English language, including common consonant and vowel patterns, syllable patterns, common spelling rules, prefixes and suffixes, roots, non phonetic words, and contractions
• deepen older students' proficiency with language by introducing less common Latin roots and Greek combining forms, new words entering the English language, and lessons built around themes such as calendars and mythology

To help educators teach with confidence once they're in the classroom, this text is packed with practical, immediately applicable material. Educators will get engaging classroom activities (including 21 NEW activities suitable for use all students, including English language learners); lesson plans incorporating multisensory, language-based instruction; samples of student work; explanations of current research; and even more websites and reference material to strengthen their instruction.

An ideal professional development resource for inservice educators. This new edition of a classic best-seller will help teachers unlock literacy for all their students.

Table of Contents

About the Author

Foreword - Maryanne Wolf

Preface

Acknowledgments

I. Preparation

1. Decoding and Spelling: Keys to Unlocking Literacy
2. A Brief History of Written English
3. Structure of the English Language

II. Instruction

4. Lesson Fundamentals
5. First Steps: Early Instruction for Effective Decoding and Spelling
6. Beginning Readers: Time for the Anglo-Saxon Layer of Language
7. Advancing Readers: Time for the Latin and Greek Layers of Language
8. Competent Readers: Extending the Latin and Greek Layers of Language

Appendices

• A. Surveys of Language and Knowledge
• B. Nonphonetic Rote Memory Word Lists
• C. Compound Words
• D. Prefixes
• E. Suffixes
• F. Latin Roots
• G. Greek Combining Forms
• H. Words Commonly Found in Textbooks
• I. Glossary

References

Index

"Another masterful contribution to the professional literature by one of the education's leading literacy experts. This book provides the practical tools needed to build fluent readers."
- Donald D. Deshler, Williamson Family Distinguished Professor of Special Education and Director, Center for Research on Learning, University of Kansas

"Once again Marcia Henry has created a treasure chest of practical teaching tips for helping students coordinate the sound, spelling, and word parts for meaning in learning to read and spell. Research shows this approach works!"
- Virginia Berninger, Professor of Educational Psychology, Director of University of Washington Brain Education and Technology--Education Site, and Coordinator, Research Area on Learning Disabilities, Eunice Kennedy Shriver Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Rese

"Since the first edition was published, I have referred to and recommended this wonderful book over and over again. No teacher, especially of intermediate and middle grade students, should be without this book."
- Louisa Moats, President, Moats Associates Consulting, Inc.

"This updated edition, like its predecessor, is the most authoritative text on the origins of English orthography and the development of decoding and spelling skills. A stellar contribution that is a must read for anyone engaged in teaching children to read."
- G. Reid Lyon, Distinguished Professor and Chairman, Department of Education Policy and Leadership, Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas

"For those who enjoy the thrill of an 'aha' moment, there is one on every page. If you care about making a difference, this book will be your constant companion."
- G. Emerson Dickman, Past President, International Dyslexia Association

"Many teachers will be encountering some of this information anew; for others, it will be a refresher course. All, however, will benefit greatly from this important volume."
- Keith E. Stanovich, University of Toronto, author of Progress in Understanding Reading

"A wonderful resource . . . Sharing effective and engaging teaching methods, Marcia Henry shows how to help students across the grades become strong readers and spellers with sophisticated vocabulary knowledge."
- Susan Brady, University of Rhode Island and Haskins Laboratories

"As a speech-language pathologist, I believe this text is a most welcome resource for supporting children with language-learning disabilities in the classroom and in group or individual instruction."
- Cheryl Smith Gabig, Speech-Language Pathologist, Lehman College/ City University of New YorkSpeech-Language Pathologist, Lehman College/ City University of New York