Parents,
As you may or may not be aware, Spelling will now be called “Word Study”, and evidence will be collected on Word Study tests, as well as how students spell in every day work.
As part of our word study program your child will be bringing home a section in their binder called: Word Study. It will contain a collection of spelling words that have been introduced in class. Each night of the week your child is expected to do a different activity to ensure that these words and the spelling principles they represent are mastered. These activities have been modeled and practiced in class, so your child can teach you how to do them.
Please be aware that although your child might be able to read the word without hesitation, he/she may have trouble spelling the word in every day work. The Words Their Way word study program is designed to get readers to be dependent on fast, accurate recognition of words in texts, and fast, accurate production of words in writing. In doing so, readers and writers can focus their attention on making meaning.*
Thank you for your support. Together we can help your child make valuable progress!
Monday: Remind your child to sort the words into categories like the ones we did in school. Your child should read the word aloud during this activity. Ask your child to explain to you why the words are sorted in a particular way. Is there a spelling pattern they notice? Ask your child to cut the words apart, sorting them as fast as possible.
Tuesday: Using the words, change the meanings of the words by adding or changing a prefix or suffix. For instance: change a present tense word into a past tense word such as: fry, fried, frying, refried. Try to come up with as many variations of the word by using a dictionary resource.
Wednesday: Write a 1/2 to 1 page about a certain subject/topic and use all of this week's words correctly. An example: Write about a trip you took this summer. Be sure to include all of this week's spelling words in your written response.
Thursday: Do a practice test to prepare for Friday’s word study test. As you call out the words in random order, your child should write them correctly. Call out any words your child misspells a second or even third time.
*Bear, et al. Words Their Way, 5th ed. New York: Pearson Education, Inc. 2012.