A recent article in the American Educator journal discusses the merits of teaching children how to spell.  This group of educators and researchers argue that students are not learning HOW to spell, but they are just memorizing spelling words.  The research indicates that students who learn how sounds combine, historical significance of root words, and pronunciation rules are not only better spellers but also have a much higher reading comprehension level. So in this digital age of spell check and texting, is it really necessary to teach children how to spell?  I think the answer is a resounding YES!  In my experience, students who can't spell, can't read, and can't comprehend.  Students who struggle with reading comprehension will struggle in all academic areas.  On the flip side, if a student can't spell then writing also becomes a problem.  It may be acceptable to use the latest text abbreviation to communicate with your friends but when students can't differentiate between those abbreviations and the real word then there is a problem.  Students who are poor spellers have difficulties expressing their ideas. However, my husband would argue that spelling isn't really that important unless it effects the meaning of a word.  (i.e. wear and where)  He questions the historical importance of words, especially those that are of Anglo-Saxon origin, since the Brits have some very different spellings of the same word.  Of course, this comes from the guy who writes the word 'maybe' as"maybee" and then in parentheses defines it as "a bee that lives only in the month of May".  Clearly spelling and communicating his ideas are not that important to him.