The Mysterious Schwa and other Anomalies of English Phonetics

The Mysterious Schwa and other Anomalies of English Phonetics

Did you know that the most common vowel sound in English has no letter to call its own? Do you use a pin or a pen when you sign a document? Do you carry a lunch box, a lunch pail or a bento? Do you “pahk” or “park” your car?

Through discussion and activities, we will demystify the concept of the schwa and several other systematic phonetic variations such as dialects, regionalisms, and the most common of those pesky allophonic variations that can confuse spellers and readers alike. We plan to send you off with a better understanding of some of the anomalies of English and something to use with your students.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Participants will improve their understanding of the nuances anomalies and annoyances of learning to read and spell in English. They will be able to:

• Identify, describe and explain the most common variations in articulation, enunciation and spelling in English.
• Teach strategies for reading and spelling words impacted by dialect, allophonic variations and the schwa
• Apply this knowledge to analyze and address students’ spelling errors

About Your Speakers

Dr. Judith Fontana

Dr. Judith Fontana, worked for 20 years at the Virginia Department of Education’s Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC) at George Mason University where she provided an array of services related to literacy. Dr. Fontana has been an adjunct for both the Special Education and Literacy Programs at Mason where she developed and managed a Dyslexia Certificate Program. She is currently working as an NCIL Consultant for the National Center on Improving Literacy and as an adjunct for Marymount University. Dr. Fontana is a Professional Developer for the Strategic Instruction Model (SIM) and has been a LETRS facilitator. She continues to work with and advocate for students with learning disabilities.

Dr. Cindy Buckley

Dr. Cindy Buckley began a career in literacy thanks to an obsession with Nancy Drew books and a failed foray as a girl detective. She was a special education teacher and an adjunct instructor before a love of teaching reading led her to become a literacy specialist at the Virginia Department of Education’s Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC) at George Mason University. The excellent baba ghanoush available on campus was merely a happy coincidence. She currently works at Lexia as a Senior Curriculum Specialist and volunteers with the Virginia Council for Learning Disabilities and the Virginia Branch of the International Dyslexia Association.