Spelling Cycle

Every time you use the spell check or ask an adult to find the correct spelling of a word you don’t know, add it to your list of  “Words I Want to Learn.”  Make sure they are spelled correctly.

To Learn Words

Choose about 10 words you would like to work on from your master list.  Use a spell check to make sure that they are correct.  Have an adult double check that they are spelled correctly before you start to practice them.  You never want to practice a word incorrectly!

It is nice to have a special journal or notebook for all of your spelling practice, the list of words you would like to learn, and quizzes, so you can see your progress over time!

          Practice the 10 words in any of the following ways: 

• Do “Look, Say, Spell, Cover, Write, Check, Star or Fix,” until you have 5 stars!
• Find and write (about) 5 rhyming words for each spelling word in your spelling journal.  An adult can look the word up in the rhyming dictionary, or you can use the list of consonant beginnings to think of rhyming words.  Have an adult spell them correctly before you copy them into your journal.
• Alphabetize your words, spelling them correctly.
• Look each word up in the dictionary, and write down other words in the same word family.  Add prefixes and suffixes to each word if possible.
• Use each of your spelling words correctly in a sentence, story, rhyme, or poem.
• Write each word with the consonants in red and the vowels in green.

Advanced Practice

• Find other words with the same spelling pattern. 
• Break each word up into syllables.  Check your work using the dictionary. 
• Make mnemonic devices for tricky words. 

It is more effective to work on spelling for 15-30 minutes a day than 2 hours once a week.

Do you know your 10 words?  Are you ready to work on some new ones?

When you feel that you know the words and are ready to practice some new words, have someone give you a written quiz.  That will tell you which words you know and which ones you should continue to practice.  Make a new list of 10 words to practice, starting with the ones you got wrong on the quiz. 

Always keep copies of your master list of “Words I Would Like to Learn” and your quizzes, with the date you took them, so you can have a record of your progress!

Periodically review old words so that you don’t forget them.

Some Things Good Spellers Do:

• Reread their writing to see if they have any mistakes to fix.
• Use their knowledge of word families and spelling patters to attempt spelling unknown words.
• Check the spelling of questionable words using spell check, a book, a dictionary, or asking an adult.
• Notice words they need to learn and practice them.

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