Recently I picked up a package of plastic, magnetic, alphabet letters, in a clearance bin. This is a small set of lowercase letters.
I placed them all on the refrigerator when the kids were out of the room and didn't say a word. As the kids came in and noticed them they were surprised and each spelled their names. They asked me why I put them there and I answered that I liked all the diferent colors and thought they looked pretty on the frig.
They have been there about 3 weeks now and it is simply amazing how many times they have stopped to spell things with these letters.
Retta started with putting random letters together and asking what she had spelled. I would simply try my best to sound out her words and say nothing else. She then started asking how to spell certain words. Each time she did this she retained spelling of the word and now spells it independently. (I just realized as I am writing this she is in the kitchen making letter patterns, "all the green ones here...all the blue ones here..)
Musa has also been frequently spotted at the refrigerator spelling words. I always know if he has been there by the words left behind...war, skate, much, money, rap, love, king!
We had our good friends over for fun and frolick Tuesday, and Sarah (6) was also quite intrigued with these letters. She kept coming back in the kitchen playing (spelling) with them.
I am going to buy a few more packages.
John Holt was a genius. This is just the type of thing he writes about. Very similar to the number chart. Fascinating to watch this natural learning unfold.
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