Some of you have heard me
at conference presentations and workshops explain that some people
find the widely used spelling mnemonic clue:i before e except after c confusing.The person who finds this clue confusing usually has a
right/left discrimination problem that manifests itself in the
following way.When
the person needs to spell the word receive, he
remembers the saying,i
before e except after c but also wonders if the saying isc before i except after e or e before c
except after i.This
thought process renders this mnemonic clue useless for this
person.This week one
of my students expressed this same confusion.He wanted to know how to apply this clue.
The Mnemonic:
This week the mnemonic clue is for the spelling
of the word receive, the word that is most frequently
thought of with the cluei before e except after c.This clue uses the concept of making the memory clue
personal.The letter iin the word receive can be used to make it personal.You place yourself in between the ce and the ve.If the person needs a clue for remembering where the ibelongs, he or she can place it in the alphabet, c
then the i,then
the v.
receiveorreceve
A number of
teachers and students have asked to have the Mnemonic Clue of the Week
sent to them each week. If you would like to receive this service, send
your e-mail address to
rcooper-ldr@comcast.net
