Dear Parents,
I am excited to inform you that Bellevue Elementary School has chosen a new phonics, spelling, and vocabulary program called Words Their Way. The main benefit of Words Their Way is that it differentiates instruction; allowing each child to work at his or her instructional level.
During the first week of school each student will be given an initial spelling inventory test to help guide me in placing each student into a group of spelling words. Students will be assigned a different group of words each week. You will get a monthly list in your child's Friday Folder.
Words will be introduced each Monday in class. We will do many different word sorts throughout the week. Word work in our classroom will include sorting our words into categories, noticing similarities and differences between words that sound alike and identifying patterns.
A traditional Spelling Test will be given on Fridays. For each spelling test, I will ask students to spell 11 randomly selected words from their assigned word list. The main purpose of these checks is to guide each student’s spelling instruction.
In addition to the 11 spelling words we will have 3 surprise challenge spelling words that go with our weekly pattern. These 3 words are not on the spelling list and will not be graded or included in the weekly spelling test grade. These words give the students the challenge of spelling and sounding out our weekly spelling pattern for that week.
Words Their Way focuses less on memorization and more on allowing students to work with the words to learn the spelling pattern. Word work done at home and school will reflect this philosophy. I have attached ideas and information about spelling homework for Words Their Way.
Also, included on our weekly Spelling Test will be 4 dictated sentences. These dictation sentences will have past and present spelling words. I will look for sentence structure, finger spacing, capital letters, and proper ends marks.
I am excited about the opportunity to work with your child using Words Their Way. Please feel free to contact me with any questions about this program. It will be a learning experience for me as well.
Sincerely,
Ms. Skipper
[email protected]
I am excited to inform you that Bellevue Elementary School has chosen a new phonics, spelling, and vocabulary program called Words Their Way. The main benefit of Words Their Way is that it differentiates instruction; allowing each child to work at his or her instructional level.
During the first week of school each student will be given an initial spelling inventory test to help guide me in placing each student into a group of spelling words. Students will be assigned a different group of words each week. You will get a monthly list in your child's Friday Folder.
Words will be introduced each Monday in class. We will do many different word sorts throughout the week. Word work in our classroom will include sorting our words into categories, noticing similarities and differences between words that sound alike and identifying patterns.
A traditional Spelling Test will be given on Fridays. For each spelling test, I will ask students to spell 11 randomly selected words from their assigned word list. The main purpose of these checks is to guide each student’s spelling instruction.
In addition to the 11 spelling words we will have 3 surprise challenge spelling words that go with our weekly pattern. These 3 words are not on the spelling list and will not be graded or included in the weekly spelling test grade. These words give the students the challenge of spelling and sounding out our weekly spelling pattern for that week.
Words Their Way focuses less on memorization and more on allowing students to work with the words to learn the spelling pattern. Word work done at home and school will reflect this philosophy. I have attached ideas and information about spelling homework for Words Their Way.
Also, included on our weekly Spelling Test will be 4 dictated sentences. These dictation sentences will have past and present spelling words. I will look for sentence structure, finger spacing, capital letters, and proper ends marks.
I am excited about the opportunity to work with your child using Words Their Way. Please feel free to contact me with any questions about this program. It will be a learning experience for me as well.
Sincerely,
Ms. Skipper
[email protected]