At the beginning of the school year all students take the same spelling tests. These tests track the phonics skill that I am teaching for the week. Students usually enter first grade knowing the sounds of most consonants. So, we begin by practicing spelling words with short vowel sounds in the following order: short a, short i, short o, short u and short e. We also assess each student's knowledge of consonants and short vowels with a spelling test from the Words Their Way program. Using the weekly spelling tests and the Words Their way assessment, students can be grouped based on their spelling skills. Early on the groups might look like this:
Group 1 - Can spell with all consonants and short vowels
Group 2 - Can spell with most consonants and doesn't know all short vowels
Group 3 - Cannot spell with many consonants and short vowels.
Groups can be further divided depending on the spelling skills of the individual students in the classroom every year. As the year goes on students will learn h-digraphs (thin, chat, wish), L-R-S blends (flag, drip, swim), ending blends (must, jump), and vowel teams (team, feet, high, boat, due). Our groups could change each week. If a student has mastered a phonics skill they move to the next group. Other students may stay in a group longer as they practice the new skill.
Why is spelling important? In first grade if you can write it, chances are you can read it. Students do memorize words and can read them even though they can't spell them. However, it's unlikely that a student can spell a word that they can't read. Learning how to sound out words for reading and to break apart sounds for spelling are closely tied. We don't want students to spend time spelling words they already know. We also don't want to ask students to spell words when we know they don't know the consonants, vowels or spelling patterns needed to spell that word.
I hope this helps you understand our spelling program. If you have any more questions about the program, or why your child is in a group don't hesitate to contact me.
Mrs. Cantor
943-6425
cantor_j@westcler.org
Group 1 - Can spell with all consonants and short vowels
Group 2 - Can spell with most consonants and doesn't know all short vowels
Group 3 - Cannot spell with many consonants and short vowels.
Groups can be further divided depending on the spelling skills of the individual students in the classroom every year. As the year goes on students will learn h-digraphs (thin, chat, wish), L-R-S blends (flag, drip, swim), ending blends (must, jump), and vowel teams (team, feet, high, boat, due). Our groups could change each week. If a student has mastered a phonics skill they move to the next group. Other students may stay in a group longer as they practice the new skill.
Why is spelling important? In first grade if you can write it, chances are you can read it. Students do memorize words and can read them even though they can't spell them. However, it's unlikely that a student can spell a word that they can't read. Learning how to sound out words for reading and to break apart sounds for spelling are closely tied. We don't want students to spend time spelling words they already know. We also don't want to ask students to spell words when we know they don't know the consonants, vowels or spelling patterns needed to spell that word.
I hope this helps you understand our spelling program. If you have any more questions about the program, or why your child is in a group don't hesitate to contact me.
Mrs. Cantor
943-6425
cantor_j@westcler.org
Group 1 Spelling List
her were
sir bird girl first shirt
fur hurt burn
High Frequency Words
done visit
Challenge Words cloud house
her were
sir bird girl first shirt
fur hurt burn
High Frequency Words
done visit
Challenge Words cloud house
Group 2 Spelling List
rag vat wig lip
hop fog
sum cup jug rub
Challenge Words
wish rash
rag vat wig lip
hop fog
sum cup jug rub
Challenge Words
wish rash
Week of February 22, 2016