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Spelling Words and Tests
Our classroom uses the research based Sitton Spelling program. The Sitton
Spelling philosophy is that words aren't really "mastered" until they are
spelled correctly in everyday writing. Many students can memorize words for
a "Friday Test" but if there is no transfer to student writing, what's the
point? Third graders are responsible to learn "core words" 171-335 from
the list of 1200 words. Words are arranged on the list in the order of
frequency of use in everyday writing. In addition, words on the "No
Excuses" (Priority Word List) are words that should have 100% mastery for
third graders.
I will teach spelling lessons and strategies such as spelling rules,
phonics, word patterns etc. Students will have classroom assignments to
practice their spelling skills in context. Visual skills are developed and
practiced such as proofreading. Each week for homework, students will work
on five of the words on their "personal list" that need to be learned.
Students will add words to this personal list as the words are spelled
incorrectly in their everyday work. Parents can help by becoming their
child's personal spelling editor and assisting with spelling. While the
core word list may look easy, remember that these words are also the words
that might be misspelled or used incorrectly in everyday written work.
How are students Assessed?
Students are assessed using their everyday writing. Random checks will be
made to classroom assignments could be graded for spelling - science, social
studies, language arts, math. In addition, a "cloze story" test is given
in which students listen to a passage read by the teacher and fill in the
missing words in the story. These words come from the core word and
priority word lists. Sentence dictation tests are also given. The teacher
reads four sentences and the students write the sentences including using
the correct punctuation. Again, nearly every word in the sentence dictation
comes from the core word or "no excuses" priority word list.
Word Bank of 1200 High-Frequency Writing Words
The words in this word bank are listed in the order of their frequency of
use in everyday writing. Since the is the most frequently used word in our
language, its number is one in the word bank. The first 25 words are used in
33% of everyday writing, the first 100 words appear in 50% of adult and
student writing, and the first 1,000 words are used in 89% of everyday
writing.
Core Words
The Core Words in the Rebecca Sitton program are divided by grade levels.
They are the seeds from which this spelling program grows and develops. They
provide a foundation for each grade level to begin spelling exploration and
are a springboard for the study of hundreds of additional words.
Grade 1 word frequencies 1-30
Grade 2 word frequencies 31-130
Grade 3 word frequencies 131-265
Grade 4 word frequencies 266-400
Grade 5 word frequencies 401-600 and beyond
"No Excuses" Words
"No Excuses" Words are the words for which students are accountable to spell
correctly in all of their everyday writing and are taken from the list of
core words. Below are the groups of words which we hope most children will
master by the end of his/her grade level. Please help your child to spell
these words correctly in their everyday writing. Since this is our first
year of implementation at Hastings School, we ask for your patience in terms
of school-wide uniformity. Not all classes or all children will have the
same number of priority words at any given time. Spelling is both a
developmental and highly individualized skill so teachers attempt to meet
the needs of their classes within the framework listed below.
Grade 1 words 1-21
Grade 2 words 1-36
Grade 3 words 1-60
Grade 4 words 1-100
Grade 5 words 1-150 and beyond
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---Third Grade Priority Words
Words 1 – 55
1.the 37. there
2.of 38. can
3.and 39. an
4. a 40. your
5.to 41. which
6.in 42. their
7.is 43. said
8.you 44. if
9.that 45. do
10.it 46. will
11.he 47. each
12.for 48. about
13.was 49. how
14.on 50. up
15.are 51. out
16.as 52. them
17.with 53. then
18.his 54. she
19.they 55. many
20.at
21.be
22.this
23.from
24.I
25.have
26.or
27.by
28.one
29.had
30.not
31.but
32.what
33.all
34.were
35.when
36.we
Third Grade Core Words
171 – 335
171. along 208. life 245. better
282. car 319. American172. 172.
while 209. enough 246. best 283.
morning 320. space
173. might 210. took 247. across
284. I’m 321. inside
174. next 211. four 248. during
285. body 322. ago
175. sound 212. head 249. today 286.
upon 323. sad
176. below 213. above 250. however 287.
family 324. early
177. saw 214. kind 251. sure
288. later 325. I’ll
178. something 215. began 252. knew 289.
turn 326. learned
179. thought 216. almost 253.
it’s 290. move 327. brought
180. both 217. live 254. try
291. face 328. close
181. few 218. page 255. told
292. door 329. nothing
182. those 219. got 256. young
293. cut 330. though
183. always 220. earth 257. sun
294. done 331. idea
184. show 221. need 258. thing
295. group 332. before
185. large 222. far 259. whole
296. true 333. lived
186. often 223. hand 260. hear
297. half 334. became
187. together 224. high 261.
example 298. red 335. add
188. asked 225. year 262. heard
299. fish
189. house 226. mother 263. several 300.
plants
190. don’t 227. light 264. change
301. living
191. world 228. country 265. answer 302.
black
192. going 229. father 266. room
303. eat
193. want 230. let 267. sea
304. short
194. school 231. night 268. against
305. United States
195. important 232. picture 269. top 306.
run
196. until 233. being 270. turned
307. book
197. form 234. study 271. learn
308. gave
198. food 235. second 272.
point 309. order
199. keep 236. soon 273. city
310. open
200. children 237. story 274.
play 311. ground
201. feet 238. since 275. toward
312. cold
202. land 239. white 276. five
313. really
203. side 240. ever 277. himself
314. table
204. without 241. paper 278.
usually 315. remember
205. boy 242. hard 279. money
316. tree
206. once 243. near 280. seen
317. course
207. animal 244. sentence 281. didn’t 318.
Front
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Last update: 03-29-00/mgl
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