Our Mission Statement The Cedar Wood school community provides a positive, enriching environment where we live, learn, and grow peacefully together.

Although I retired in 2008, it is the years of work done before 2009 that leads to an award like this. I am proud to have been a part of a school and community that cares so deeply about education.

Count Down Chain

Decorate and cut out tree, Glue to a sheet of construction paper. Make a paper chain of green and red. Attach the chain to the bottom of the tree. each night cut a link off.

Soon it will be Christmas day.

Classroom Managment, The Key to Success

Touch Stones for Creating a Safe
&
Trustworthy Space

· Choose for yourself when and how to participate
There is always an invitation, never an invasion; always opportunity, never demand.

· Be present for yourself and others
Presume welcome and extend welcome.

· Speak for yourself-Use “I” statements

· Make space for silence
Slow down and pay attention to the voice of the inner teacher.

· No fixing
Seek instead, through deep listening and open questions, to help each find his or her
own clarity.

· When the going gets rough, turn to wonder
Be open to learning and seeing with “soft eyes.” Turn from reaction and judgment to
wonder and compassionate inquiry.

· Observe confidentiality

Pumpkin Science

Scientific Discovery and Investigation with Pumpkins

1. Predict how much your pumpkin weighs. Then weigh it on a bathroom scales.
2. Name the properties of the pumpkin.
3. How does the pumpkin feel?
4. How does the pumpkin smell?
5. How does the pumpkin taste?
6. What does the pumpkin look like on the inside?
7. Does the pumpkin have seeds?
8. To get inside the pumpkin, cut off the top.
9. Does a pumpkin grow underground--or on top?
10. Does a pumpkin grow on a vine, a bush, or where?
11. Are all seeds inside a pumpkin the same size?
12. Will a small pumpkin have small seeds in it as compared to a large pumpkin?
13. What could you do with the insides of a pumpkin?
14. What could you do with the seeds?
15. Predict how many seeds are in your pumpkin. Count your seeds. How close did you come? 16. Now cook your seeds. Be sure to taste the seeds before you cook them, then taste them after you cook them. Is there any difference in taste? [Cook the seeds in a popcorn popper with butter or oil.]
17. Plant your seeds. Plant some of the cooked seeds to see what will happen. Are the seeds scattered randomly within a pumpkin or arranged in some sort of pattern?
18. Do big pumpkins have larger seeds than small pumpkins?
19. Is there anything in a pumpkin which lines up with the creases on the outside?
20. What does a pumpkin seed weigh?
21. How many seeds does a pumpkin contain?
22. Do all pumpkins have the same number of seeds?
23. Can you tell which side of a pumpkin was against the ground? How? Does the stem help you figure it out?
24. Will pumpkins float in water? If they do, do they float stem up, stem down, or stem sideways?
25. Can pumpkin seeds be sorted into groups?
26. How thick is the skin of a pumpkin? How far in is the meat?
27. Place an empty wastebasket in a dishpan. Fill the wastebasket to the rim with water. Place a pumpkin into the water. Measure the volume of water displaced. This will be the volume of the pumpkin. Find the volume of several pumpkins. What relationship is there between weight and volume?
28. Do birds eat pumpkin seeds?
29. Make a list of the properties of a pumpkin and give it to someone. Can they guess what the object is?
30. Will pumpkin seeds grow if planted right away?
31. What folklore can you find about pumpkins?
32. Where did pumpkins come from originally?
33. What other plants do we eat which are related to pumpkins?
34. What is a pepo?
35. If every seed in a pumpkin grew into a plant which produced one pumpkin and each of the seeds produced a plant which did the same, how many seeds would be produced?
36. What other pumpkin investigations can you think up?

Physical science:
Investigation and experimentation: sink/float, color, shapes, sizes, textures, do the # seeds, line up with ribs, and much more, be creative.

Sink or Float: Divide students into small groups. Provide a water-filled container large enough to hold pumpkins, a pumpkin or the students’ individual pumpkins, paper towels, crayons or markers, and pencils. Ask students to turn to a blank page in their pumpkin journals and answer the following questions: Do you think a pumpkin will sink or float in water? Why?

Next have them rest their pumpkins on top of the water while holding onto the stems. On the count of 3, have them release their pumpkins. Discuss the results of the experiment as a class. Then ask each student to remove his/her pumpkin from the water and dry it off.

Then have each child summarize and illustrate the activity in the remaining space on his/her journal page.

Technology Classes I've Created and Taught

Classroom Projects with MS PowerPoint
Come learn a variety of ways to use PowerPoint for classroom activities and projects. Here are just a few samples: create a Dictionary of Students incorporating a digital camera; ABC Books - any topic will do; learn how to incorporate state reports into PowerPoint presentations. Make seating charts, certificates, and more!

Classroom Projects with MS Publisher
Microsoft Publisher is an easy way to get students using technology in your classroom. You leave this workshop with at least five ideas you can use in your classroom from the first day of school on. If you've been looking for a way to jump start the use of technology in your classroom, this workshop is for you!


Creating Digital Stories with MovieMaker
With easy access to a digital camera in each classroom, creating digital stories is easier than ever. Learn how to build simple movies using MovieMaker 2 and a combination of video clips and still images. Students can use this same technique to create visual poetry, illustrate a scientific concept, or even put together a story problem. You'll walk out prepared to use tools available in every classroom in the district!!!

Integrating Technology With SchoolKit EdClass
Are you ready to put technology to use in your classroom, but aren't quite sure where to start? SchoolKit eNactz offers you nearly 700 ready to use, standards-based activities for grades Kindergarten through High School that you can use in your classroom immediately! This workshop will show you how to access the activities, choose those that are most appropriate for you, and most importantly, how to get started using them in the classroom immediately. All activities use Word, PowerPoint and Excel as the base software, so you have everything you need to start the moment you finish the workshop!



Intro to UnitedStreaming (Part I of Effective Use of Video in the Classroom)
UnitedStreaming on-demand video service provides you access to over 3,000 videos, correlated with standards, whenever you need them. In this workshop you will set up your account, learn to create and use playlists and use the powerful search tools to quickly find video clips to use in your classroom. A system overview will be provided to help you understand how the system works in Everett Public Schools, and how you can access the system from both home and school. Those who wish to earn clock hours for this workshop must also attend Effective Use Of Video in the Classroom: Part 2.



Introduction to UnitedStreaming Video
UnitedStreaming on-demand video service provides you access to over 5,000 videos, correlated with standards, whenever you need them. In this workshop you will set up your account, learn to create and use playlists and use the powerful search tools to quickly find video clips to use in your classroom. A system overview will be provided to help you understand how the system works in Everett Public Schools, and how you can access the system from both home and school. The workshop will also teach you how to integrate videos in with your PowerPoint and other MS Office applications.

Marco Polo
A partnership among the leading national and international educational organizations and the MCI Foundation, MarcoPolo: Internet Content for the Classroom features seven discipline-specific Web sites that house Partner-created and reviewed Internet-based lessons and resources-all at no cost. MarcoPolo makes commercial-free, standards-based content of the highest quality easily accessible to teachers and students. You'll leave this workshop knowing how to find AWESOME web based resources and ideas for using them in your classroom

Multimedia Fieldtrip
Field trips provide a rich learning environment for students, but they are usually over so fast that it is hard to remember everything you experienced. Technology allows you to overcome this limitation!!
Spend four days learning to use technology to help bring field trips with you back to the classroom! We'll show you how to use a variety of tools to capture the sights, sounds and voices you encounter while on a classroom field trip. We'll then spend a day on a field trip of Everett, returning with a wealth of information, both digital and analog. The last two days of the workshop will be spent creating a 'digital story' of the field trip, using one of the following four applications (you'll choose which one on the first day of the class):
- Clicker 4 Learning Grids
- PhotoStory 3
- Movie Maker
- Photo enhancement software
At the end of the workshop, we'll regroup and share our stories with each other around the "digital campfire."


PhotoStory, Classroom Projects Across the Curriculum
Now that you've learned to use PhotoStory in our beginning workshops, take this opportunity to learn to integrate PhotoStory into many projects in the classroom in this hands-on workshop. You will see a variety of completed projects in several content areas and learn how to manage your classroom for successful completion of projects. Walk away from this workshop ready to help your students complete a PhotoStory learning project.



Podcasting Basics
Session ONE:
What is a podcast? How can you use them in class to meet educational standards and align with your current curriculum? What tools are needed to create one? These questions will be answered and you will have time to begin your first practice podcast using Audacity. You will have a homework assignment to complete before the next session.

Session TWO:
How can you add music and sound effects to your podcast? How can you set up your classroom to have students recording and creating? How do you share the finished product with the world? This session will have you create a second podcast practice and set-up your school blog for sharing podcasts. You will also be given a framework for creating a specialized podcast for your classroom.


Power Point Projects and Ideas for Students and Teachers
Come learn a variety of ways to use Power Point for classroom activities and projects. Here are just a few samples: create a Dictionary of Students incorporating a digital camera; ABC Books - any topic will do; learn how to incorporate WebQuest State reports into Power Point presentations. Make seating charts, certificates, and more!

Using Technology to Support Elementary Science
Science and technology go hand in hand, and this workshop will show you a multitude of ways you can integrate technology with the new science kits. You'll see a variety of examples that you can quickly adapt to your kit, as well as understand which SchoolKit EdClass activities are appropriate with each. Learn how to extend the Science Kits into other content areas such as reading and writing as well. You'll leave this workshop inspired to add that extra touch to your science instruction.

Word Projects and Ideas for Students and Teachers
The focus will be on using Word for classroom activities and projects. Create your own plan book and grading sheets. Learn to make name tags for desks, lockers, or anything you need. Have students create their own absent notes for parents to use throughout the year. Create ABC books for any topic. Learn to create 'poems in motion,' which is a poem that looks like the topic you are writing about. Make games for kids using Word.

How to Use English Punctuation Correctly

With the dawn of the Internet, the birth of Internet slang, and the growing age of SMS, many individuals are forgetting the fundamental aspects of English punctuation. Would you like to write a great paper for one of your classes? Maybe you need to submit a polished, impeccable proposal to your boss. If so, it will help to know proper usage of punctuation. Consider this article a crash course in English punctuation, and read on.

Steps

1. End your sentences with a period (full stop), question mark, or exclamation point (exclamation mark or shout mark).
   
   • Use the period (full stop) to denote a full stop at the end of a statement. The period ( . ) is one of the most commonly used punctuation marks.
     
     • The accessibility of the computer has increased tremendously over the past several years.
       
     
     
   • The question mark ( ? ), used at the end of a sentence, suggests an interrogatory remark or inquiry.
     
     • What has humanity done about the growing concern of global warming?
       
     
     
   • The exclamation point (exclamation mark, shout mark)( ! ) suggests excitement or emphasis in a sentence.
     
     • I can't believe how difficult the exam was!
       
     
     
   
   
2. Use the semicolon and colon properly.
   
   • The semicolon ( ; ) has a few uses.
     
     • Use a semicolon to separate two related but independent clauses. Note that, if the two clauses are very wordy or complex, it is better to use a period instead.
       
       • People continue to worry about the future; our failure to conserve resources has put the world at risk.
         
       
       
     • Use a semicolon to separate a complex series of items, especially those that contain commas.
       
       • I went to the show with Jake, my close friend; his friend, Jane; and her best friend, Jenna.
         
       
       
     
     
   • The colon ( : ) has multiple uses.
     
     • Use the colon to introduce a list. Be careful not to use a colon when denoting a regular series. Usually, the word following suggests the use of a colon. Use only after a full sentence which ends in a noun.
       
       • The professor has given me three options: to retake the exam, to accept the extra credit assignment, or to fail the class.
         
       • INCORRECT - The Easter basket contained: Easter eggs, chocolate rabbits, and other candy.
         
       
       
     
     
   
   
3. Understand the differences between a hyphen and a dash.
   
   • The hyphen ( - ) was once a common punctuation mark on typewriters, when a long word might have been split between two lines. The hyphen is still used in a number of other areas:
     
     • Use a hyphen when adding a prefix to some words. The purpose of this hyphen is to make the word easier to read. If you were to leave the hyphen out of a word like re-examine, it would be reexamine, which would be harder to read. Understand that some words do not require a hyphen to separate the prefix from the word, such as restate, pretest, and undo. Let a dictionary be your guide for when to use the hyphen after a prefix. When you use a hyphen, the two words have to rely on each other. Example: re-arrange.
       
       • Cara is his ex-girlfriend.
         
       
       
     • Use hyphens when creating compound words from separate words.
       
       • The up-to-date newspaper reporters were quick to jump on the latest scandal.
         
       
       
     • Use a hyphen when writing numbers out as words. Separate the two words of any number under one hundred with a hyphen.
       
       • There are fifty-two playing cards in a deck. ("The amount is one hundred and eighty" is a common error in US English, where the "and" is usually omitted. Elsewhere in the English-speaking world, however, the "and" is usually included.)
         
         • Be careful with spelling out numbers above one hundred—if the number is used as an adjective, it is completely hyphenated, since all compound adjectives are hyphenated (I have one-hundred tapes). Otherwise, a hyphen should only occur if a number <100 occurs within the larger number, e.g., He lived to be one hundred twenty-one.
           
         
         
       
       
     
     
   • The dash ( -- or — ) should be used when making a brief interruption within a statement, a sudden change of thought, an additional comment, or a dramatic qualification. It can also be used to add a parenthetical statement, such as for further clarification, but should still be relevant to the sentence. Otherwise, use parentheses. Keep in mind that the rest of the sentence should still flow naturally. Try to remove the statement within the dash from the sentence; if the sentence appears disjointed or does not make sense, then you may need to revise. There should be spaces before and after the dash in British English.
     
     • An introductory clause is a brief phrase that comes—yes, you guessed it—at the beginning of a sentence.
       
     • This is the end of our sentence—or so we thought.
       
     
     
   
   
4. Use the double quotation mark and single quotation mark/apostrophe for different purposes.
   
   • The double quotation ( " ) encloses a direct quotation, whether made by a person or taken from a piece of literature.
     
     • "I can't wait to see him perform!" John exclaimed.
       
     • According to the article, the value of the dollar in developing nations is "strongly influenced by its aesthetic value, rather than its face value."
       
     
     
   • The single quotation mark or apostrophe ( ' ) has a variety of uses.
     
     • Use the apostrophe together with the letter s to indicate possession. Be aware of the difference in using an apostrophe with singular or plural nouns. A singular noun will use 's, whereas the plural version of that singular noun will use s'. Also, be mindful of nouns that are always considered to be plural, such as children and people — here, you should use 's. Be aware of pronouns that are already possessive and do not require apostrophes, such as hers and its (it's is used only for the contractions of it is and it has). Their is possessive without apostrophe or s, except as a predicate adjective, where it becomes theirs.
       
       • The hamster's water tube needs to be refilled.
         
         • A singular noun with possession.
           
         
         
       • In the pet store, the hamsters' bedding needed to be changed.
         
         • A pluralized singular noun with possession.
           
         
         
       • These children's test scores are the highest in the nation.
         
         • A plural noun with possession.
           
         
         
       
       
     • Use the apostrophe to combine two words to make a contraction. For example, cannot becomes can't, you are becomes you're, and they have becomes they've.
       
     • Use the single quotation mark within a regular quotation to indicate a quotation within a quotation.
       
       • Ali said, "Anna told me, 'I wasn't sure if you wanted to come!'"
         
       
       
     • Note that an apostrophe is not used with 's' to make a plural noun from a singular. This is a very common mistake and should be avoided.
       
       • CORRECT - apple → apples
         
       • INCORRECT - apple → apple's
         
       
       
     
     
   
   
5. Indicate a break or pause within a sentence with the comma ( , ). This is another commonly used punctuation mark. There are several instances where you might use a comma:
   
   • Use the comma when denoting an appositive, or a break within a sentence that supplements and adds information to the subject.
     
     • Bill Gates, CEO of Microsoft, is the developer of the operating system known as Windows.
       
     
     
   • Use the comma when denoting a series. This is a set of three or more "list" items within a sentence. To save space in newspapers, some writers may omit the last comma.
     
     • The fruit basket contained apples, bananas, and oranges.
       
     • The computer store was filled with video games, computer hardware and other electronic paraphernalia.
       
     
     
   • Use a comma if your subject has two or more adjectives describing it. This is somewhat similar to a series, except that it is incorrect to place a comma after the final adjective.
     
     • CORRECT - The powerful, resonating sound caught our attention.
       
     • INCORRECT - The powerful, resonating, sound caught our attention.
       
     
     
   • Use a comma when referring to a city and state. It is also necessary to use a comma to separate the city and state from the rest of the sentence.
     
     • I am originally from Freehold, NJ.
       
     • Los Angeles, CA, is one of the largest cities in the United States.
       
     
     
   • Use a comma to separate an introductory phrase (which is usually one or more prepositional phrases) from the rest of the sentence. An introductory phrase briefly introduces the sentence, but is not part of the sentence's subject or predicate, and it therefore should be separated from the main clause by a comma.
     
     • After the show, John and I went out to dinner.
       
     • On the back of my couch, my cat's claws have slowly been carving a large hole.
       
     
     
   • Use the comma to separate two independent clauses. Having two independent clauses in a sentence simply means that you can split the sentence into two. If your sentence contains two independent clauses that are separated by a conjunction (such as and, as, but, for, nor, so, or yet ), place a comma before the conjunction.
     
     • Ryan went to the beach yesterday, but he forgot his sunscreen.
       
     • Water bills usually rise during the summer, as people are thirstier during hot and humid days.
       
     
     
   • Use a comma when making a direct address. When calling one's attention by name, separate the person's name and the rest of the statement with a comma. Note that this kind of comma is used rarely in writing, because this is something that we do normally while speaking.
     
     • Amber, could you come here for a moment?
       
     
     
   • Use a comma to separate direct quotations. A comma should come after the last word before a quotation that is being introduced. It is not necessary to use a comma in an indirect quote. A comma is usually not necessary if you are not quoting an entire statement.
     
     • While I was at his house, John asked me if I wanted anything to eat.
       
       • An indirect quotation that does not require a comma.
         
       
       
     • While I was at his house, John asked, "Do you want anything to eat?"
       
       • A direct quotation.
         
       
       
     • According to the client, the lawyer was "lazy and incompetent."
       
       • A partial direct quotation that does not require a comma.
         
       
       
     
     
   
   
6. Understand the difference between parentheses, brackets, and braces.
   
   • Use parentheses ( ( ) ) to clarify, to place an afterthought, or to add a personal comment. Be sure to include the period after the closing parenthesis.
     
     • Steve Case (AOL's former CEO) resigned from the Time-Warner board of directors in 2005.
       
       • Used for clarification. Here, commas can replace the parentheses.
         
       
       
     • You will need a flashlight for the camping trip (don't forget the batteries!).
       
       • An afterthought. Note that the period (full stop) follows the last parentheses — not before the first. Also note that replacing the parentheses with a comma may not be entirely suitable here, and is better off with a period or a semicolon. And that if the parenthetical thought is an "independent" one, perhaps it should be a sentence in itself. The above example is one case: "...the camping trip. (Don't forget the batteries!)"
         
       
       
     • Most grammarians believe that parentheses and commas are always interchangeable. (I disagree.)
       
       • A personal comment.
         
       
       
     
     
   • Use brackets ( [ ] ) to signify an editor's note in a regular piece of writing. You can also use brackets to clarify or to revise a direct quote so that it appeals to your own writing. Brackets are often used to encompass the word "sic" (Latin for thus), suggesting that the previous word or phrase was written "as is", with the error intended to be displayed.
     
     • "[The blast] was absolutely devastating," said Susan Smith, a local bystander at the scene of the incident.
       
       • "It was absolutely devastating!" – the actual quote by Susan Smith.
         
       
       
     
     
   • Braces ( { } ) are most widely used in denoting a numeric set in mathematics. Though generally uncommon, braces can also be used in regular writing to indicate a set of equal, independent choices.
     
     • { 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 }
       
     • Choose your favorite utensil { fork, knife, spoon } and bring it to me.
       
     
     
   
   
7. Know how to use the slash ( / ).
   
   • Use the slash to separate "and" and "or", when appropriate. The phrase "and/or" suggests that a series of options are not mutually exclusive.
     
     • "To register, you will need your driver's license and/or your birth certificate."
       
     
     
   • The slash is used when quoting lyrics and poetry to denote a line break. Be sure to add spaces between your slashes here.
     
     • "Row, row, row your boat / gently down the stream / Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, / life is but a dream."
       
     
     
   • The slash can replace the word "and" to join two nouns. By replacing "and" with a slash, you suggest that there is equal important to both characteristics. Use these replacements in moderation to place greater emphasis where "and" may not do so—as well as as not to confuse the reader. You can also do the same for "or", as in "his/her". However you should not use the slash to separate independent clauses, as shown below.
     
     • "The student and part-time employee has very little free time." → "The student/part-time employee has very little free time."
       
     • "Do you want to go to the grocery store, or would you prefer to go to the mall?" → "Do you want to go to the grocery store / would you prefer to go to the mall? – This is incorrect.
       
     
     
   
   

Tips

• If you write in a professional capacity, be sure to follow any guidelines or style guides provided by your employer. In some cases, their rules can be at odds with what you read here or elsewhere, but their rules always take precedence. For example, some companies use serial commas (a, b, and c) and others do not (a, b and c).
  
• Many grammar experts believe that parentheses and commas are often interchangeable when setting off information. While this is sometimes true, there are some cases where a set of parentheses might be more suitable, such as in indicating one's personal thought.
  
• Although dashes and parentheses have similar uses, remember that parentheses indicate a stronger "side notion" than dashes.
  
• There are exceptions to the hyphen-dash rule. In making compound words, when one of the words is itself composed of two words, use an en dash ( – ) rather than a hyphen, as in, "He took the Paris–New York route." En dashes are also used between numbers, as in page numbers or years, to denote a range. ("A discussion on personal finance is found in pages 45–62.")
  
• The placement of punctuation marks before or after a closing quotation mark varies. American English leaves the punctuation mark inside the quotation if it is part of the quotation, "like so." (Commas and periods (full stops) are always put inside the quotation marks for a sentence in American English, regardless of whether the quotation has punctuation at the end. Other types of punctuation marks are put outside the quotation if they are not part of the quotation.) British English tends to leave the punctuation mark outside the quotation, "like so".
  
  • At times, British English will switch back and forth between the inside and outside, depending on the context. For example, interrogative quotations may keep the question mark inside the quotation, as in, "Do you like this question?"
    
  
  
• In formal writing, try to avoid excessive use of question marks and exclamation points. Most of your sentences should be declarative statements.
  
• Dashes are usually considered to be informal. You might want to replace the use of a dash with a set of parentheses, or even commas. Similarly, limit the frequency of dash use in your writing; they should be reserved to emphasize a couple of important points.
  
• If you decide against the serial comma in your work, make sure that the meaning of the sentence can stand without its use. Think about the classic example of a sentence in which the serial comma is needed: "My heroes are my parents, Mother Teresa and the Pope."
  
• If you find that a sentence seems to drag on, find a way to add a comma or two, so that it is easier on the reader's eyes. If a sentence becomes too long, then consider splitting it into two or more sentences.
  
• Never be afraid to have short sentences in your writing by splitting up long sentences that contain several points. Your reader will appreciate writing that is clear and concise with briefer statements, as opposed to a one-page paragraph with twenty words per sentence.
  

Warnings

• While using English punctuation appropriately may help your writing to flow much more smoothly, generally creating a more "intelligent" appearance, don't overdo it. It's best to err on the side of omission than to add several superfluous apostrophes and commas.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Avoid Colloquial (Informal) Writing
  
• How to Use Apostrophes
  
• How to Use Question Marks Correctly
  
• How to Use a Dictionary
  
• How to Learn English
  
• How to Use Generic Pronouns
  
• How to Use There, Their and They're
  
• How to Write a Report on Paul Revere
  
• How to Enrich Your English Language Vocabulary
  
• How to Be Articulate
  
• How to Write a Poem
  

Sources and Citations

• Wikipedia's guide to the Apostrophe
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Use English Punctuation Correctly. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Spell

The English language is confusing, packed with inconsistencies and exceptions that anyone who's learning the language for the first time will be quick to point out. There are so many ways to write out a single sound that theoretically, you could pronounce the word "ghoti" as "fish" (if you pronounce the gh as in tough, the o as in women and the ti as in nation).[1] If you're struggling to get a grasp on those silent vowels, confusing consonants, and crazy pronunciations, here's how you can improve.

Steps

1. Learn spelling rules. There are some classic rhymes and rules to help children get the hang of spelling, but they do have exceptions, so use them in conjunction with the rest of the steps in this article.
   
   • i before e, except after c, or when followed by g, or when sounding like "ay", as in "neighbor" and "weigh"
     
     • this rule does not apply for the word "weird"; weird but true
       
     • other exceptions: either, leisure, protein, their
       
     • "cien" words don't follow this rule: ancient, efficient, science
       
     • "eig" words that don't sound like "ay" also don't follow this rule: height, foreign
       
     
     
   • "When two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking." When there are two vowels together, the first one in the word is pronounced the "long" way (way, be, mite, go, flu) and the second one is silent. If you're not sure how to arrange the vowels, sound the word out--which long vowel do you hear? Put that one first. Examples: team, coat, wait. Exceptions: you
     
   • The spelling of a word doesn't change when you add a prefix, even if it means putting two of the same letter right next to each other. Examples: Misspell, misstep, preeminent, unnecessary.
     
   • Remember the rule for making singular nouns ending in y into plurals. If a word has a vowel (a,e,i,o,u) before the y, the plural is formed by adding s. Examples: toy becomes toys; buoy becomes buoys. A singular word with a consonant before the y at the end changes the word ending to -ies in the plural. Examples: lady becomes ladies in the plural, ferry becomes ferries. The rule also applies to present tense verbs ending in y in the third person singular - He/she carries, he/she marries, he/she worries.
     
   
   
2. Identify problematic words. Look back through previous writings and check the spelling. This will be easier to do if you have electronic files and run a spell check program, but the very best way to get this done is to have an impeccable speller edit your work. Which are the words you tend to misspell the most often? Write down every word you misspell. Consult the list below for some commonly misspelled words, and pick out the ones you tend to confuse.
   
3. Sound it out. Some words are spelled exactly as they sound, but the most problematic words are the ones with silent vowels or consonants. It may help to sound out the correct spelling in an exaggerated way. Take the word "beautiful" for example. When you see this word, say to yourself "beeeee--a---ooooootiful". Emphasize the "a" (pronouncing it like in "hay" or "hat") because it is normally not pronounced in the word, and is more likely to be left out. There may also be words in which you make a vowel silent when you really shouldn't, such as "intresting" instead of "interesting" or "comfrtable" instead of "comfortable"). Make it a habit to pronounce words correctly (don't skip consonants or vowels that you're not supposed to) and you'll have a better chance of spelling them correctly.
   
4. Watch out for homonyms and homophones. A homonym is one of two or more words that have the same sound and often the same spelling but differ in meaning, such as bank (embankment) and bank (place where money is kept). A homophone is one of two or more words, such as night and knight, that are pronounced the same but differ in meaning, origin, and sometimes spelling. Click on any of the following commonly mistaken homonyms/homophones for guidelines:
   
   • How to Use You're and Your
     
   • How to Use There, Their and They're
     
   • How to Use Than and Then
     
   • How to Use Affect and Effect Properly
     
   • How to Use Its and It's
     
   • Other common homonyms and homophones are: Two, To, & Too; And & End; Here & Hear; Eight & Ate; Wear, Ware, & Where; Lose & Loose; and Sent, Scent, & Cent.
     
   
   
5. Be familiar with "piggyback pairs". It's not uncommon for pairs of consonants to be pronounced so that one is silent and figuratively "piggybacks" on the sound of the other. Make note of the following:
   
   • gn, pn, kn = n (e.g. gnome, pneumonia, knife)
     
   • rh, wr = r (e.g. rhyme, wrestle)
     
   • pt, ght = t (e.g. ptomaine, height)
     
   • ps, sc = s (e.g. psalm, science)
     
   • wh = h (e.g. whole)
     
   
   
6. Use mnemonics. For words that you keep spelling incorrectly, develop creative memory aids to help you remember how to spell them. Some examples:
   
   • Desert (arid land) or dessert (a sweet treat)? Remember that with dessert, there are two "s"s because you always want seconds.
     
   • Separate - Keep forgetting that "a" in the middle? Remember that there's a rat in sepARATe, separating the first beginning of the word from the end.
     
   
   
7. Practice. Go through each word that you frequently misspell and write out the correct spelling ten times (more if you're a fast typer, fewer if you're writing by hand). Do this every day or every other day. What you're essentially doing is "training" your mind and hand(s) to spell the word correctly. Eventually, you might want to quiz yourself by having someone read the words out loud (or making a recording of yourself) and writing out each word as you hear it. Then go back and see which ones you got wrong. Focus on practicing with those.
   
8. Copyedit someone else's work. Sometimes the best way to learn something is to try to teach it to someone else. Train yourself to pick out other people's spelling mistakes, even in books (it does happen). You can begin by copyediting wikiHow articles!
   
9. Watch out for the "grocer's apostrophe." This gets its name from a spelling error traditionally made by greengrocers on signs in produce sections. Unfortunately, this error is popping up in all sorts of places these days. Remember that an apostrophe with an "s" shows possession. Correct: "The banana's skin turned brown." You do not use an apostrophe to form the regular plural of a noun. Not correct: "Special on banana's: 49 cents."
   

Commonly Misspelled Words

From How to Spell Commonly Misspelled Words
MISSPELLING
CORRECT SPELLING
acheive achieve
adress address
alot a lot
athiest atheist
beggining beginning
beleive believe
bisness business
catagory category
committment commitment
concieve conceive
copywrite copyright
decaffinated decaffeinated
decathalon decathlon
definately definitely
desireable desirable
diety deity
dissapoint disappoint
dispell dispel
embarass embarrass
enviroment environment
expresso espresso
extremly extremely
facist fascist
Febuary February
flourescent fluorescent
fourty forty
freind friend
guage gauge
goverment government
grammer grammar
harrass harass
hemorage hemorrhage
heros heroes
hieght, heigth height
hygeine hygiene
independance independence
inate innate
innoculate inoculate
it's its (possessive pronoun)
judgement judgment
knowlege knowledge
lazer laser
libary library
lightening lightning
loose lose
maintainance maintenance
managable manageable
midevil medieval
millenium millennium
mischievious mischievous
mispell misspell
mit mitt
monestary monastery
monkies monkeys
morgage mortgage
mountian mountain
neccessary necessary
neice niece
nickle nickel
nineth ninth
ninty ninety
noone no one or no-one
noticable noticeable
occured occurred
occurence occurrence
oppurtunity opportunity
paralell parallel
pasttime pastime
pavillion pavilion
peice piece
percieve perceive
perserverance perseverance
persue pursue
posession possession
pertend pretend
potatoe potato
preceeding preceding
pronounciation pronunciation
priviledge privilege
publically publicly
recieve receive
reccomend recommend
rediculous ridiculous
reguardless regardless
remeber remember
roomate roommate or room-mate
rythm rhythm
sacreligious sacrilegious
seige siege
sentance sentence
seperate separate
sieze seize
similiar similar
sincerly sincerely
speach speech
stationary stationery (office supplies term)
stragedy strategy
suggestable suggestible
supercede supersede
supposively supposedly
suprise surprise
thier their
throughly thoroughly
tommorrow tomorrow
tounge tongue
triathalon triathlon
ukelele ukulele
vaccuum vacuum
vegeterian vegetarian
villian villain
Wendesday Wednesday
wierd weird (exception: Wierd programming language)
writting writing

Tips

• Proofread your work. We all get busy at some point during writing, which makes it easy to toss in a sound alike word such as reef or wreath; and you can carry on that mistake unaware that a mistake has been made...until later and it jumps out at you...then you are like, "Wow, I wrote that?"
  
• Reading books and newspapers, catalogues, billboard signs, posters in windows all aid in learning how to spell. If you find a word that is not familiar, write it down, even if all you have is a paper napkin. When you go home, look up the word or words in the dictionary. The more you reference, the more you read, the better you will be at spelling.
  
• It can really help to be familiar with the spelling of a few other languages, and to know the language that the word comes from.
  

Warnings

• Don't rely on a spelling checker program, as they are not foolproof and would let a sentence like this slip through: "Eye tolled ewe, eye am knew at this."
  
• Don't assume that just because a word is printed in a book that it is spelled properly; there are mistakes made there, too, as well as in other writings. It happens!
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Use English Punctuation Correctly
  
• How to Study for a Spelling Test
  
• How to Spell a Difficult Word
  
• How to Memorize Words for a Spelling Bee
  
• How to Win a Spelling Bee
  
• How to Understand Chat Acronyms
  

Sources and Citations

1. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghoti

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Spell. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.