Mrs. Cole' s First Grade

Spelling Homework Extensions

Mrs. Cole/Fundations Phonics

Spelling homework will now include activities that we have been doing in class.

Part I Practice Current Unit Words

1. "Say It" - have your child echo the word that you dictate
2. "Tap It" - your child taps out the sounds in the word
3. "Spell It" - your child says aloud te letter names to spell the word
4. "Write It" - last have your child write the word using careful handwriting

Part II Trick Words

Trick Words will need to be memorized, NOT tapped out.  These words are phonetically irregular and do not follow the “system” of the language.  Students learn these words in class using their gross-motor memory.

Practice trick words by doing these steps: Example word - the

·        Say the word “the” then the letter names “t-h-e.”

·        Trace the letters in the air (SKYWRITE) as you say the letter names.

·        Close your eyes and do it again.  Pretend to see the letters and trace them.

·        Next use your finger to write on a table.  Pretend your finger is a marker.  WRITE IT REALLY BIG!

·        Say “t-h-e, the” as you write the word with your finger.  (Say the letter names as they make the letters with their fingers on a table.)

Part III Flashcard Sheet

The Unit homework will include a sheet of Trick Word flashcards. Cut these word cards apart and use them to practice trick word reading and spelling.

Part IV Fluent Reading Practice

There will be a reading passage to practice current sounds and to work on "scooping" phrases" to read naturally in a fluent tone.

1. Digraph Detective - Your child will be "hunt" for consonant digraphs and mark them by underlining the digraphs.
2. Read-Aloud The Passage - Have your child read-aloud the passage, stopping to tap out any words that are difficult.

Part V What about Spelling Tests???

The Fundations Phonics Program has a Unit test approximately every 3 weeks. In between, there are regular in-class dictation exercises that cover sounds, current words, trick words, and sentence dictation.

1. Unit test - summative assessment, every 2-3 weeks
2. Dictation weekly on dry-erase slate - formative assessment that guides teacher instruction on how students are learning new concepts
3. Dictation weekly in student composition books - portfolio item, a collection of student's work which will demonstrate progress throughout the year.

Part IV Communication About Progress of Your Child

A progress report will be sent at the end of each unit.** This report will give their unit test score with a break-down of subtest areas: sounds, review words, current words, trick words, and sentence dictation (spelling, capital letters, and ending punctuation marks.)

**Students who are not performing at 80% on the Unit Test will be a candidate for extra instruction to reteach and practice review/current sounds and concepts. Tier II tutoring gives these students small group instruction (1:6 ratio) an extra 1/2 hour of Fundations Practice two times a week during a separate afternoon session.

Part V Importance of Parent Involvement & Practice

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! I am excited to be teaching this new curriculum. I know how important extra practice and encouragement are to each student's success. If you have questions, the best way to reach me is by e-mail at cole_ka@aps.edu. I understand that you may have concerns or questions about this alternative way of assigning homework and evaluating weekly spelling performance. Our goal is to improve applied spelling and reading fluency. What a joy it is to see them writing sentences using review words on their own! We have seen terrific improvement in handwriting as well. The current unit reading practice on "scooping" words should help them progress in their fluent reading during guided reading instruction as well.