ABSTRACT
Dictation is valuable because it helps to develop auditory sequential memory, including short-term memory and working memory skills. It also helps to establish visual memory for spelling patterns.
Dictation can also be used by an individual without the help of a teacher/learning partner. In that case, the learner:
• Reads the sentences on to a cassette-tape recorder or MiniDisk recorder with a playback facility – or he can use a computer package such as Dragon Naturally Speaking
• Plays it back, using headphones to listen to it sentence by sentence • Writes it down • Re-reads using the proof-reading C-O-P-S and checking with the original sentences.
These activities use different learning strategies, a variety of tactics and different skills to teach, rehearse and reinforce phonemic and phonological skills. They include differentiated levels of difficulty to match different spelling abilities. Some individuals will be able to tackle all the activities during the 20 minutes of the Literacy Hour that is to be used ‘for group or independent work’, whereas others may work on fewer sections. The keywords and strategies can be revised during the plenary session. Pupils can be asked to identify their ‘best’ strategy for remembering.
