April 2008
Literacy Tutoring Tip:
Chants, Cheers, Songs, and Pantomimes
As students are introduced to new sight words, they should see them, say them, and spell them. Brain research suggests that as we involve more senses in acquiring knowledge, we are better able to retain and recall that knowledge. So have your students stand up and shout (when possible) as they enjoy some of these "spelling" activities:
Students pretend that they are writing on a large chalkboard. As they say each letter, they "write" it as large as they can. After each word is spelled, students say the word as they "erase" it.
Children start spelling the word while squatting. With each successive letter they stand higher and higher. When the word is said in its entirety, the children jump into the air.
Students pretend to be lifting weights, one repetition for each letter. When they have chanted all of a word's letters, they can pretend to mount the barbell on its stand and sound exhausted as they say the word.
Students pretend to swing an ax as they chant each letter. Then they pretend that the tree is falling down as they shout out the word, rather than "TIM-BER!"
from: www.literacyconnections.com
