Meet the Teacher Night

Miss Roswurm’s Class

Spelling Instruction

2011-2012

A New Way to Spell

Spelling instruction has come a long way from Spelling instruction has come a long way from memorizing a list of words and taking a test memorizing a list of words and taking a test on those words at the end of the week.on those words at the end of the week.

No more are students going to slide by not No more are students going to slide by not being able to spell.being able to spell.

Welcome to Individualized Spelling Lists!Welcome to Individualized Spelling Lists!

Individualized Spelling Lists

What does this mean?What does this mean?

Your child will not have the same set of words as Your child will not have the same set of words as another child. The week’s spelling words are another child. The week’s spelling words are personalized to meet your child’s spelling needs.personalized to meet your child’s spelling needs.

Your child will be able to select five words he or Your child will be able to select five words he or she wishes to know how to spell.she wishes to know how to spell.

I will select another five words for your child I will select another five words for your child based upon observations made during small based upon observations made during small group instruction.group instruction.

How will this work?At the beginning of each week, your child will At the beginning of each week, your child will write five words he or she wishes to learn how write five words he or she wishes to learn how to spell, how to use, or the meaning of a word to spell, how to use, or the meaning of a word in his or her agenda.in his or her agenda.

If your child missed a word from a previous If your child missed a word from a previous week, it will remain on their spelling list until week, it will remain on their spelling list until they achieve mastery.they achieve mastery.

I will add another five words that I find your I will add another five words that I find your child struggling with to complete a list of ten child struggling with to complete a list of ten words per week for your child.words per week for your child.

Why so few words?

The goal is not for students to memorize lists of words, The goal is not for students to memorize lists of words, but rather to care about the words they use.but rather to care about the words they use.

When children select words they wish to know how to When children select words they wish to know how to spell, it is so they can use them in their writing.spell, it is so they can use them in their writing.

Students will actually be able to learn more words and Students will actually be able to learn more words and be able to apply them in their work. They also have the be able to apply them in their work. They also have the opportunity to challenge themselves and take an active opportunity to challenge themselves and take an active role in their learning.role in their learning.

Spelling Activities

Throughout the week, your child will complete Throughout the week, your child will complete activities to help him or her learn their spelling activities to help him or her learn their spelling words.words.

He or she may complete flash cards, identifying He or she may complete flash cards, identifying the meaning and synonym, creating a the meaning and synonym, creating a sentence, and drawing a representation.sentence, and drawing a representation.

He or she may use the words to create a story He or she may use the words to create a story or paragraph.or paragraph.

How you can help at home!

When you read with your child, write down When you read with your child, write down words that he or she struggles pronouncing or words that he or she struggles pronouncing or understanding. We can add these words to understanding. We can add these words to their spelling lists.their spelling lists.

Ask your students to tell you what their Ask your students to tell you what their spelling words mean or to use them in a spelling words mean or to use them in a sentence.sentence.

Review with your students using old spelling Review with your students using old spelling words and incorporating the new words. words and incorporating the new words. Create flash cards with your students.Create flash cards with your students.

The Weekly Test

Every Friday, the students will select a partner. Every Friday, the students will select a partner. They will exchange papers. They will quiz They will exchange papers. They will quiz each other and check each other’s papers. each other and check each other’s papers. They turn them in when they finish.They turn them in when they finish.

If the student misses a word, it transfers to If the student misses a word, it transfers to next week’s list.next week’s list.

Otherwise, the students start thinking about Otherwise, the students start thinking about new words to add to their spelling lists for new words to add to their spelling lists for them to spell!them to spell!