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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

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Learn more about automaticity

Conventions
Conventions — grammar, spelling, and the like — are important to good writing, but should be taught only after the other Features of Effective Writing.
By Kathleen Cali.

A skill performed spontaneously with little or no conscious attention to its execution. Automaticity of word recognition frees attention for comprehension.

Additional information

Automaticity is fast, effortless, and accurate word recognition that grows out of practice and instruction. Automaticity allows students to retrieve words quickly from memory and concentrate on other aspects of reading, such as comprehension.

Games and activities using lists of high-frequency words, personal word lists, and word walls help students develop automaticity.