Spelling
Students will be given ten list words each week. This may be a bit less than you’re used to, but there’s good reason. With this approach, students are working with words to really gain an understanding of one specific letter pattern each week in hopes that they will really retain that knowledge and be able to apply it to unknown words in the future, strengthening that reading and writing connection. With this approach to spelling, we are allowing students to spend a long time working with one specific spelling pattern so they can gain a true understanding. They are not being rushed through lists with multiple spellings of the same sound and being made to memorize the spelling for each word. Here, each spelling pattern is given its own list and adequate time is given for students to gain a clear understanding. develop mastery, and be ready to apply it outside of isolated practice.
They will also be given 2 of the No Excuse words each week. Students will not know which words will be on the test.
There is one part I haven’t addressed yet - the unknown pattern words. These are words that the students do not know that they will be tested on. However, they follow the exact spelling pattern they’ve studied all week. They never contain questionable spelling, like ph vs. f, and are very carefully selected for each list. If students truly learned the pattern for the week, they’ll easily be able to spell these words. And again the bigger hope is that they’ll be able to apply this new knowledge long after the test is done.
Students will place a copy of the No Excuse word list for the current quarter in their spelling notebook, which is kept at school and used during word work. The No Excuse words come from a combination of sources: first and second grade sight words, recommended spelling lists for ages 6-9, and commonly misspelled word lists.
Along with the weekly word list, students should be studying and working with these words regularly. Two words from the list for the current quarter will be chosen randomly for each test.
There may be a dictation sentence on the test as well. The sentence will use current spelling words. Students will be expected to use correct conventions (capital at the beginning and period at the end).
Spelling tests are given on Friday and current lists will be posted weekly on our class website.
Spelling City
Spelling city is a great website offers multiple games for students to practice weekly spelling words. The best part is that all of our spelling words are already programmed into the site! All you need to do is find the week we are on. Have fun practicing!