Spelling Challenges

Spelling Challenge

Dear Families,

A student can be considered a capable speller if he or she almost always spells the spelling words at 100% accuracy on Word Review tests, sentence dictations, and random samples of their work. Spelling is a skill for authentic work. Spelling words should not be used as a list to memorize, but instead should be used as anchor words to help with other spelling (learning sounds, spelling rules, exceptions, etc.). Good spelling is useful only for good writing. So spelling and writing go hand in hand. Spelling comes easy for most capable spellers, so “harder” words are rarely effective. Instead, you may extend your child's instruction with the following ideas:

• Write spelling words in ABC order.
• Write sentences with spelling words. Make your sentences work together to tell a story.
• Play with homophones, homonyms, antonyms, synonyms, contractions, idioms, etc.
  
  
• Stretch It – take a simple sentence and stretch it to make it more informative or interesting. For example: “I saw a cat.” “I saw a black cat.” “I saw a big black cat.” “I saw a big black cat sitting on the wall.”
• Sort It – sort words into groups that you create. For example: “Words that end in VCe”, “Number of syllables”, or “Words that have double letters”
• Make an “If you know..” paper. “If you know ____, it can help you spell _____.” For example: “If you know can, it can help you spell ran, sand, fan, tan, stand...”.
• Create books or stories. Use as many spelling words from previous weeks as you can.
• Learn how to spell “Topical Words”. These are words around a topic that you may be learning about or are interested in. Maybe you have been writing a lot about the solar system. Learn how to spell each planet's name (don't forget the capital letter!). Maybe you are collecting rocks at home. Learn how to spell the different types you have.
• Create your own challenge list. What words are you interested in? List the words, use a dictionary to check spelling, and use flash cards or a family member to help you study your new words.

• Create a word game (word search, crossword puzzle, matching game...)
  
  
• Write a song, using spelling words in your lyrics.

*** Please keep this list of suggestions in a safe place at home. Spelling Challenges will always be a suggestion for those who do not need to study spelling words. ***