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Paul W. Bennett: Count on spelling revival in Nova Scotia

Black educators ahead of game

The 20th annual provincial spelling bee sponsored by the Black Educators Association (BEA) of Nova Scotia is on the horizon, and learning to spell is back in fashion, sparked by the latest “science of learning” research.

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What used to be dismissed as a form of “rote learning” that is superficial, it turns out, has real value as one of the building blocks of learning.

When the BEA competition convenes May 9 at Mount Saint Vincent University, it will once again showcase the enduring value of learning to spell.

Memorizing the actual spelling of words, contrary to prevailing progressive learning pedagogy, is a foundational tool rather than a replacement for understanding, just like learning times tables plays a crucial role in deeper learning by enabling fluency, reducing cognitive load and providing the necessary building blocks for critical thinking and creativity.

Today’s elementary school educators, steeped in progressive methods, have dismissed spelling as “old school” teaching.  The world’s leading “learning scientists,” inspired by Paul A. Kirschner and Daniel T. Willingham, have the research to demolish that claim.

Memorizing your spelling and learning your numbers at an early age allows students to move foundational facts into long-term memory, which frees up “mental space — specifically working memory — to handle complex, new information and apply it in........

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