Dear parents,
This year spelling will be a little different from years past.
Each week your child will be given ten spelling words to study at
home based on the spelling pattern we are studying in class. The final test
will also include some words that your child will not be able to study that
follow the same spelling pattern. Researchers have found that students often
memorize words for a test and then promptly forget them the following week.
This is because assigned spelling lists require students to study isolated
words rather than studying the phonics, the sounds that letters make within
the words. The five words on the test that your child is not able to study
will help me determine how effectively your child is able to apply the
spelling pattern to new words.
With this approach in mind, each week a new spelling pattern will be
introduced to your child in class. Students will learn the “rules” associated
with each new pattern and will take part in literacy center activities
throughout the week to gain more exposure to the pattern and practice making
and sorting words that follow the pattern. When students take their final
test, they will be given words that follow the pattern we have been studying
throughout the week. Ten will be words that they have been studying at home,
and 5 words will be new. This will help me assess how well students can apply
the spelling pattern to different words instead of only assessing them on how
well they can spell isolated words that were memorized for the test. Research
shows that this approach to spelling leads to more accurate spelling of words
when students are composing their own pieces of writing.
There are also specific words in the English language that are commonly
found in texts and are used regularly in students’ writing. We call these
HIGH FREQUENCY WORDS. While students will have 10 assigned words that follow
the spelling pattern that we are studying each week, they will also have 5
high frequency words that they will be expected to practice spelling at home.
Your child will have a spelling test each Thursday that contains 20 words.
Fifteen of the words will be pattern-based and, and the remaining 5 will be
high frequency words that are individually chosen for your child. If your
child receives a 100% on Thursday they will not have to retake it on Friday
and will have time to work on other activities. If your child does not score
a 100% on Thursday then they will retake it on Friday and I will record the
better of the two grades.
Your child’s list is located below for you to study with them. There is
also a bonus word and definition to help with vocabulary. They will receive 1
extra point for spelling it correctly and 1 extra point for the definition.
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call or e-mail me.
Thank you.
Nicole Marconi
Words for the Week of November 16th (Rule:the /or/ sound)
1. pour
2. fourth
3. sports
4. source
5. wore
6. ignore
7. course
8. tornado
9. portrait
10. yourself
11. through
12. possible
13. probably
14. shown
15. several
Bonus Word: novice - is a beginner, someone who's not very experienced or is
new to something.
