Each week for homework students bring home a sheet with our spelling words. This is taken from the Words Their Way program. I know what you're thinking, "Those boxy things?".
While students are working on spelling those words at home, we're actually doing a variety of activities with them in class! These words are SO important for many reasons. They allow your child to practice spelling words that are at their level, they increase word recognition, and they reinforce phonics and decoding skills. In a nut shell, the goal of these words is not just to be able to spell them correctly, but also to increase reading and writing fluency.
You don't need to actually cut up the words at home because we'll take care of that in class! Here's a peek at what our spelling practice looks like in class.
While students are working on spelling those words at home, we're actually doing a variety of activities with them in class! These words are SO important for many reasons. They allow your child to practice spelling words that are at their level, they increase word recognition, and they reinforce phonics and decoding skills. In a nut shell, the goal of these words is not just to be able to spell them correctly, but also to increase reading and writing fluency.
You don't need to actually cut up the words at home because we'll take care of that in class! Here's a peek at what our spelling practice looks like in class.
MONDAY:
Students get a copy of their sort for the week. They color in the headings, cut out the words, and then work independently to sort the patterns. At this point, students are working on their own to try and find the spelling pattern for the week while I walk around to help.
Students get a copy of their sort for the week. They color in the headings, cut out the words, and then work independently to sort the patterns. At this point, students are working on their own to try and find the spelling pattern for the week while I walk around to help.
TUESDAY:
We do a lesson on the spelling patterns found in each sort. We go over all the sorts, but focus the most on the sorts that surround the long and short vowel sounds. After, students go back an re-sort their words. This time, they have to explain the patterns to me when I come around.
We do a lesson on the spelling patterns found in each sort. We go over all the sorts, but focus the most on the sorts that surround the long and short vowel sounds. After, students go back an re-sort their words. This time, they have to explain the patterns to me when I come around.
WEDNESDAY:
Partner day! Students get with their WTW partner and quiz each other on the words. First, Partner 1 reads Partner 2 a word. Then, Partner 2 has to tell which pattern that word follows. This gives students practice listening for the vowel in the word. After they finish, they quiz each other on word spellings.
Partner day! Students get with their WTW partner and quiz each other on the words. First, Partner 1 reads Partner 2 a word. Then, Partner 2 has to tell which pattern that word follows. This gives students practice listening for the vowel in the word. After they finish, they quiz each other on word spellings.
THURSDAY:
We go to the computer lab and practice spelling our words on spelling city.com. You can do this at home by going to www.spellingcity.com/angellbrennan
We go to the computer lab and practice spelling our words on spelling city.com. You can do this at home by going to www.spellingcity.com/angellbrennan
FRIDAY:
This is our last chance to practice our words. We re-sort our words and glue them down onto a piece of paper. These go into our binders so we can look at them throughout the year if we need to. Then, students get with their WTW partner and give each other the "Spelling Check". This is my way of checking to see if students grasp the pattern for the week. If they miss a word on the spelling check, I call them up one at a time throughout the week and go over the word with them.
This is our last chance to practice our words. We re-sort our words and glue them down onto a piece of paper. These go into our binders so we can look at them throughout the year if we need to. Then, students get with their WTW partner and give each other the "Spelling Check". This is my way of checking to see if students grasp the pattern for the week. If they miss a word on the spelling check, I call them up one at a time throughout the week and go over the word with them.
I love this program because every day it gives us an opportunity to move around and talk about the patterns we see in words!