Fifth graders had their first spelling lists this week! Spelling lists are sometimes called “sorts” as they are groups of words that are meant to be sorted into categories to illustrate a specific rule of English spelling. For example, students who need to learn/review the concept of silent letters at the beginning of words might have the categories: gn- (gnaw, gnome), kn- (know, knit), and wr- (write, wrist). All the words in their “sort” will fall into those categories. Students were given different sorts based on which rules they need to learn or review.
On the Monday of spelling weeks, students work in small groups to analyze the spelling rule of the week and sort their words into categories that illustrate the rule. On Tuesdays, they practice the spelling with a choice of activities. On Wednesday, they connect the words to their meanings (as the more you know about a word, the more likely you are to spell it correctly). On Thursdays, they will complete some activities that extend the spelling pattern to other words they know. Activity options throughout the week include writing in cursive, finding synonyms and antonyms, making word art, and others.
Students had their first spelling check today!
