Spelling Homework

Studies show that the traditional rote memory spelling tests do not help to improve students spelling application when they are writing. So instead we will be studying word families and spelling patterns. I will be specifically teaching a spelling pattern with the words they bring home. It will not be the traditional spelling test (like you and I did when we were at school!). I may even add words that are not on their list but follow the same spelling pattern. The goal is not for them to be able to spell a whole bunch of random words but rather to be able to apply a spelling strategy to their written work.

I have assessed each student and they have been placed into spelling groups. These groups will change according to how well they do in their test each week and how they score on their overall assessment that I will do every few months.

The test will be scored out of 47points every week. They will be tested on 15 words; 3 tricky words (taken from a whole class Fry list assessment), and 6 words from 2 families. Each word has a 3 point weight; 1 point for correct placement in the sort, 1 point for the spelling pattern correctly spelled and 1 point for the whole word correctly spelled. 2 points are given for correctly labeled spelling columns.

Spelling Weekly At home Schedule Your child will be bringing home a collection of spelling words weekly that have been introduced in class. Each night of the week your child is expected to do a different activity to ensure these words and the spelling principles they represent are mastered. These activities have been modeled and practiced in school, so your child can teach you how to do them. Each activity should take a maximum of 10 minutes each night.  Monday – Cut up words and sort them into 3 piles; 2 categories (like we did at school on Monday) and 1 tricky word pile. Have your child explain why those words go together. Ask your child to sort them again as quickly as possible. Keep the words you will need them all week.  Tuesday – Do a “listening challenge” with your child. Lay down a word from each category as a header and then read the rest of the words aloud. Your child must indicate where the word goes without seeing it. Lay it down and let your child move it if s/he is wrong.  Wednesday – Assist your child in doing a word hunt, looking for words in a familiar book that belong to the same category.  Thursday – Do a writing sort to prepare for the test on Friday. As you call out the words in random order your child should write them in categories. Call out a word your child misspells a second or third time.

If you have any questions please call/email 

709-7294 [email protected]