Word Study  By Nancy Naimey

M.S.A.D. #71 started a new word study program (formerly known as spelling) this past year.  This program  focuses on why a word is spelled a certain way.  It is a work in progress and it is being revised and fine tuned as we work with it but the basis is consistent.

There will not be any spelling lists going home to study.   Instead, I will teach a spelling rule or vowel sound or spelling pattern during the week and  I will test on random words that have that rule in them.  This will ensure that the words are not memorized but that students will be able to apply the spelling patterns which are being taught and apply those rules into their writing. Students will need to transfer the rule taught to these spelling words.

Sight words are mixed in with these lists throughout the year.  Sight words do not follow a particular pattern but need to be memorized.  The ultimate goal is that these words will be spelled correctly consistently in their writing and when that is done, we will know that the student is successful.

I start each year off with a review of the basics such as letter sounds and some sight words.  Then we will review the short vowel sounds and closed syllables, v_e syllables and open syllables. As I am reviewing these rules, if students are unsure, I will spend more time on them.   Students will become more comfortable with the pattern and routine and we will move on to more difficult words sounds and spelling patterns.  

Each time a new skill is introduced, we will spend time on that skill through many different kinds of practice in the classroom.  We will also be always intertwining previous skills.   On Fridays, a spelling test will be given on the skill that we have focused on that week.  In this test, sight words and previous skills are woven into the test. 

By teaching in this way, my hope is that this will assist students when they want to spell an unknown word and to apply skills taught.  Here is a list of the word study skills that will be included in the multiage this year but there may be changes depending upon what the class may need.  Some of these sounds will be secure in one week and others will take several weeks. 

I will work on sight words in their writing and I will have students correct the sight words which will be posted on the word wall in their writing as "must spell" correctly!  Here is a link to the sight words per grade level.  These are good words to memorize as they do not follow specific words.

I am very excited to work on spelling in this way because I think it will make sense to students.  It will be consistent throughout the district and through the grades and it will teach students why words are spelled a certain way and why there is an exception based on syllable types or patterns.  I believe all students will become better spellers and this program will benefit ALL learners!      Here is a list of the spelling patterns and rules that we will cover this year.  Some are expected to be beginning skills, some are developing and some are secure skills.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call.

                                                                                                                                                                  Review all letters and sounds

Short a sounds and closed syllable

Short e sounds and closed syllable

Short i sounds and closed syllable

Short o sounds and closed syllable

Short u sounds and closed syllable

Long vowel sounds, v_e words and exceptions

y as a vowel  - long e and long i

Digraphs-sh and th in beginning and end of words

Digraphs-wh, ck in the beginning and end of words

Review above digraphs and add qu in the beginning of words    

ang, ing, ong, and ung

ct, nk and review of ng at the end of words

Open syllable-single syllable

ind, ild, ost, old, olt

Add suffixes ed, s, ing

S saying z as a suffix, changing the base word when adding a suffix (dropping, changing, doubling)

ar, or in a single syllable (r controlled vowels)

Double o's:  oo as in book, oo as in school

Contractions

3 letter blends

2 syllables closed/closed, open/closed, open/v_e

f,l,s rule and all

ank, ink, unk, onk

Dividing between two consonants

Digraphs stay together when dividing consonants

Closed and vce

Double vowels: ay, ai

Double vowels; ee,ea (as in eat)

Double vowels: oa

soft g and c in single syllable words

We will all become word wizards in this way!

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