| Every Monday or the beginning of each school week, your child will have a new
spelling list stapled to the front of his/her take home folder for
your child to study from for the Friday test. Each week's spelling list must
be returned every Friday.
If words are missed on the Friday's test or words from the dictation
sentences, some may be added to the following week's new word list. We will
also review missed words during very short weeks.
Our spelling program will be a review of the short vowel sounds, blends, and
digraphs (sh, th, and sh). We will then move into the long vowels and other
spelling patterns.
The goal of our 2nd grade spelling program is to help children become good
spellers in their everyday writing. Testing in school will often be sentence
dictation, which will provide a review of high frequency words, some words
from previous lists, as well as the words from the current lesson. I will add
a few new words just to see if they know how to spell them. However, I will
only grade the words from their spelling list. I will dictate sentences to the
children and they will write what I say. My goal for the students is to be
able to apply their spelling to the written language rather than just a rote
spelling list. This helps them to become more conscientious in their spelling
and become better spellers. In addition, handwriting, punctuation, and use of
capital letters will be assessed. Accuracy in everyday writing will be
stressed, and proofreading skills will be taught and given a good deal of
emphasis.
Challenge words might have been added to your child's spelling list. If so,
circle any of the challenge words you want added to your child's list. If you
think your child needs more challenge words, jot me a note in his/her
assignment book on Tuesday, and I will add more. Please remember that your
child needs to be able to spell ALL the words from the list before taking on
the challenge words.
It is important for your child to write these words rather than spell them out
loud when studying, since spelling is primarily a written skill. When you are
giving your child a test at home, say a sentence with the spelling word in it.
This helps her/him to understand the meaning of the word. Please do not have
your child try to study the words the night before the test or by themselves.
They should be working on these words each night.
I want to make every effort to help your child become the best speller he or
she can be, whether that means reviewing important words or providing more
challenging words. Please do not hesitate to speak to me about any concerns.
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