We use a spelling program in class called "Words Their Way". This program is designed to deliver spelling instruction based on a student's knowledge of phonetic patterns. Your child has been placed in a small group based on a diagnostic assessment that was done in class. Each night of the week your child is expected to do a different activity to ensure that the weekly words and the spelling patterns they represent are mastered. These activities have been modeled and practiced in school, so your child can teach you how to do them.
Monday - Remind your child to sort the words into categories like the ones we did in school. Your child should read each word aloud during this activity. Ask your child to explain why the words are sorted in a particular way - what does the sort reveal about spelling in general? Ask your child to sort them a second time as fast as possible.
Tuesday - Do a blind sort (or no peek sort) with your child. Lay down one 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 he or she is wrong. Repeat if your child makes two or more errors.
Wednesday - Assist your child in doing a word hunt, looking for words in a familiar book that have the same sound, pattern or both. Try to find two or three for each category. Another activity we do in class on Wednesdays is to write five sentences using ten of the spelling words.
Thursday - Do a writing sort to prepare for the Friday test. As you call out the words in random order your child should write them in categories. Call out any words your child misspells a second time.
Monday - Remind your child to sort the words into categories like the ones we did in school. Your child should read each word aloud during this activity. Ask your child to explain why the words are sorted in a particular way - what does the sort reveal about spelling in general? Ask your child to sort them a second time as fast as possible.
Tuesday - Do a blind sort (or no peek sort) with your child. Lay down one 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 he or she is wrong. Repeat if your child makes two or more errors.
Wednesday - Assist your child in doing a word hunt, looking for words in a familiar book that have the same sound, pattern or both. Try to find two or three for each category. Another activity we do in class on Wednesdays is to write five sentences using ten of the spelling words.
Thursday - Do a writing sort to prepare for the Friday test. As you call out the words in random order your child should write them in categories. Call out any words your child misspells a second time.