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Purpose: To develop vocabulary and spelling skills
Time: 20 - 30 minutes
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Reading and writing are dependent upon words. Students
must have the ability to recognize and spell high frequency
words instantly. Students must also have the skills to
decode and encode multi-syllabic words to facilitate their
ability to construct meaning from text.
Handwriting Formation
Many upper elementary students have not mastered the
formation of certain letters or letter combinations. A
quick review by the teacher modeling the formation fills in the
gaps for older students.
Spelling / Word Wall
Spelling is a writing skill that is developmental.
Students should be able to spell high frequency words accurately
and instantly. In the upper elementary grades there is a
wide variation in spelling knowledge - from student to student
and from high-frequency word to high-frequency word. And
individualized spelling list ensures that the needs of
individual students will be met.
Pretest: On Monday a pretest is given to all
students. A three-flap file folder is used for testing.
It is comprised of ten high-frequency words and enrichment words
for those students who may already know how to spell the
high-frequency words. These words are listed under
"flap #1" in the Spelling Folder. The first ten
words are given to the students. The students write the
pretest words under "flap # 2" in the Spelling Folder.
The pretest is scored:
If a student misses all ten high-frequency words, he is
assigned the first five to learn.
If a student spells all ten high-frequency words correctly he
is assigned the five enrichment words.
Other students learn the first five missed.
Word Wall: The Word Wall contains the first five
words from each spelling test. All students must spell the
words on the Word Wall correctly when writing. The Word
Wall is also used as an instructional tool in teaching study
strategies for learning spelling words.
Posttest: The posttest is given on the last day
of the week. The teacher calls out all fifteen words.
Each student writes his/her individual word when it is called
out. The Spelling Folder is also the Spelling Portfolio
because a new test is stapled in folder each week.
Word Building
During this component the students receive instruction
in phonics, word parts, and vocabulary. A variety of
activities are used to engage the student.
- Making Words
- Multi-syllabic Word Building
- Close Technique
- Analogies
- Prefixes and Suffixes
- Synonyms, Antonyms, etc.
Management
It is important that the teacher maintains a brisk pace
during this block. Many of the activities are
recursive-ensuring success by the students.
Materials Needed
- Spelling File Folders one per student
- Alphabet letters for Make Words
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