National Evaluation Series (NES) Assessment of Professional Knowledge Practice Test

Which of the following approaches to spelling follows cognitive theory?

1. Students are given a list of words from the text and are tested on Friday.

2. Students create individual spelling lists from their writing.

3. Students sort and categorize words based on spelling patterns.

4. Students memorized spelling rules.

The correct answer is: Students sort and categorize words based on spelling patterns.

The approach that aligns with cognitive theory is the one where students sort and categorize words based on spelling patterns. Cognitive theory emphasizes the importance of understanding mental processes involved in learning. By sorting and categorizing words, students engage in deeper cognitive processing that allows them to recognize patterns, make connections, and enhance their understanding of how spelling works. This method encourages active learning and critical thinking, enabling students to internalize the structure of language and apply their knowledge to new words they encounter. In contrast, simply providing a list of words to memorize or testing students on those words does not promote the same level of understanding and engagement. While creating individual spelling lists from their writing can help students connect their spelling to their own language use, it may not specifically encourage the identification of spelling patterns. Similarly, memorizing spelling rules lacks the hands-on exploration and application of knowledge that sorting and categorizing can provide, potentially leading to superficial learning without a solid grasp of the underlying principles of spelling.