Marvellous Spelling DVD

content and design

Design and navigation

The DVD is straightforward and easy to navigate. It has different sections and can be used in different ways. The overview offers a general description of the spelling technique and ways to deliver it in a classroom with excerpts that explain the techniques and some of the theory behind them, but also film of the techniques in action in a classroom setting. This section was used successfully in a staff meeting to introduce staff to the concepts. Further sections then detail how to use the techniques, including examples of what they might look like in the classroom. These were very useful for training as they allowed staff to understand what to do and how best to apply it with children. There are also detailed case studies including adult learners who have had success with this method. It is possible to watch short sections of the DVD at a time, or combine sections for longer viewing.

In addition to the DVD there is online help and an email 'mentor' system that ensures teachers are able to gain the most from the techniques. Whilst this wasn't accessed during the evaluation, it would be useful in the long-term, particularly to access support if any problems were encountered.

Curriculum coverage

This product is purely aimed at teaching and learning spelling. As such, it covers the spelling aspects of the programme of study for the National Curriculum for English. It also covers elements of word level work in the National Literacy Strategy. I found it to be particularly useful in teaching the high- and medium-frequency word lists, and the recommended words for children at each age range. I was able to take 'sight words' that weren't in a spelling rule or letter pattern and teach them so that children were able to recall them from memory. This was something that some of them had found extremely difficult in the past.

Planning

Once this method for teaching spelling has been learned it can be applied to any classroom situation, and so it can work alongside a teacher's ordinary planning. I found that initially I needed several short sessions in a week so that I was able to remember the techniques and to allow the children to become more comfortable with them. However, this was later reduced to fit into my regular timetables spelling sessions during the week. I also asked my teaching assistant to watch the DVD at home so that she understood how to teach in this way. She then applied it to her weekly planning when delivering spelling sessions to groups of SEN children.