Letter Name-Alphabetic Spell Checks

Spell checks can be used as pretests to place students for instruction and/or as posttests to assess students to determine their mastery of a feature. A delayed posttest might also be given 3-6 weeks after studying a feature to assess retention over time. Two forms are provided here and additional spell checks are available in the companion text Word Sorts for Letter Name-Alphabetic Spellers. Use the Progress monitoring/ Goal setting charts for record keeping. Students are generally ready to study a feature when they score 40 – 70 % on a pretest. Posttest scores should be at least 80% to move on to the next feature. Many features are reviewed later in the stage so you can set a lower criterion for moving on.

1. Initial Consonants: Use forms with pictures. Use boy (or five) as a practice item. Say, “Listen as I name the first picture – boy. The first sound in boy is /b/ so write a B under the picture. Boy begins with B. Now you write the first letter in each word as I name them. “ Students can be asked to spell the entire word if you would like to gather more information but only the initial sound is counted. Criterion to move on =17 out of 19.

Form A

1. tire 11. rose Form B 1. moon 11. pie

2. mouse 12. yawn 2. dime 12. cone 3. gum 13. cake 3. kick 13. gate 4. key 14. zoo 4. boat 14. seal 5. sun 15. horn 5. hand 15. toast 6. jeep 16. nails 6. watch 16. ring 7. lamp 17. wall 7. leaf 17. yarn 8. pan 18. ball 8. jump 18. zebra 9. fork 19. van 9. vest 19. fire 10. desk 10. nest

2. Same-Vowel Word Families: Use forms with pictures. Name each picture and ask students to circle the correct word. Criterion is at least 6 of 10 since these are reviewed.

Form A

1. bat Form B 1. rat

2. mop 2. jog 3. run 3. cap 4. jug 4. hot 5. pill 5. wet 6. mad 6. nut 7. bag 7. ten 8. pot 8. fan 9. wig 9. zip 10, peg 10. bug Note: The focus of this assessment is really on whether students get the beginning and ending consonants. The medial short vowels may not be mastered at this point

3. Initial Digraphs: Use forms with pictures. Name each pictures and ask students to write the sound they hear at the beginning. If students write the entire word, only the beginning digraph is counted. Criterion is at least 5 of 6

Form A

1. shirt Form B 1. shop

2. chick 2. chair 3. whistle 3. whisker 4. thermos 4. think 5. shelf 5. whip 6. chin 6. chief Words Their Way: Word Study for Phonics, Vocabulary and Spelling Instruction 2013 by Pearson Education, Inc

4. Initial Blends: Use forms with pictures. Name each picture. Students can write only the initial blend or spell the entire word, but only the blend is counted. Criterion to move on is at least 17 of 20. You may want to give credit for either sc or sk for skip, scout, scale and skunk because sound provides no clue as to which blend is correct.

Form A 1. grapes 11. spear Form B 1. sponge 11. skunk 2. quilt 12. sleeve 2. twist 12. drill 3. smoke 13. twelve 3. snow 13. plant 4. stool 14. track 4. prize 14. grill 5. swan 15. blouse 5. block 15. swing 6. plane 16. skip 6. stamp 16. brush 7. bread 17. fry 7. clouds 17. scale 8. fly 18. crack 8. smell 18. crib 9. drip 19. glove 9. quack 19. truck 10. clock 20. scout 10. float 20. frog

5. Mixed-Vowel Word Families in CVC words: Call words aloud. Criterion = at least 8 out of 10

Form A 1. dot Form B 1. fat 2. run 2. bun 3. bit 3. pad 4. win 4. fed 5. bad 5. job 6. led 6. pan 7. rob 7. hug 8. wag 8. cab 9. jog 9. wig 10 rug 10. leg

6. Mixed-Vowel Word Families in CVCC words : Call words aloud. Criterion = at least 8 out of 10

Form A 1. bill Form B 1. fill 2. sack 2. pick 3. lick 3. cash 4. hush 4. lock 5. fell 5. sell 6. wish 6. rush 7. rock 7. hall 8. fall 8. tuck 9. rash 9. rack 10. luck 10. fish

7. Short Vowels: Use forms with pictures. Name each picture and ask students to write the missing vowel. Criterion = at least 8 out of 10.

Form A 1. sun Form B 1. cut 2. flag 2. map 3. box 3. pop 4. lid 4. dig 5. rug 5. bun 6. sled 6. pet 7. can 7. hat 8. lock 8. mop 9. bib 9. hill 10. net 10. bed

8. Short Vowels in CVC Words: Call words aloud. Criterion = at least 8 out of 10

Form A 1. jam Form B 1. ham 2. set 2. vet 3. lid 3. rid 4. fox 4. box 5. hug 5. rug 6. cab 6. map 7. fed 7. leg 8. bit 8. him 9. hot 9. pop 10. nut 10. rut

9. Short Vowels with Blends and Digraphs: Call words aloud. Criterion = at least 8 out of 10

Form A 1. path Form B 1. math 2. west 2. best 3. ship 3. chill 4. soft 4. boss

5. much 5. such 6. crab 6. cram 7. fret 7. sled 8. lift 8. gift 9. slob 9. drop 10. plus 10. dust

10. Preconsonantal Nasals and Short Vowels: Call words aloud for students to spell. Criterion = at least 8 out of 10

Form A 1. bring Form B 1. rung 2. camp 2. lamp 3. hunt 3. print 4. blend 4. think 5. wink 5. limp 6. tent 6. stump 7. thank 7. send 8. dump 8. plant 9. sang 9. long 10. hand 10. junk

11. R-Controlled A and O: Call words aloud for students to spell. Criterion = at least 5 out of 6

Form A 1. yard Form B 1. sort 2. fort 2. word 3. dark 3. card 4. horn 4. born 5. work 5. part 6. jar 6. form

Words Their Way: Word Study for Phonics, Vocabulary and Spelling Instruction 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc

Letter Name-Alphabetic Spell CheckLetter Name-Alphabetic Spell Check with IMAGES