I wanted to take this moment to explain to you the spelling program we will be using this year in 4EX. In third grade we used Scott Foresman for our spelling and reading, however, Scott Foresman is not continued into fourth and fifth grade. This year, I am going to be using Rebecca Sitton’s “Sitton Spelling and Word Skills.” Mrs. Lupoli and Mrs. Connolly both rave about this spelling program, giving me the confidence to delve into using this program for the very first time!
“Sitton Spelling and Word Skills® sets itself apart from other programs by bringing together unique elements which enable students to master spelling,language, and word skills. These important skills strengthen the students’ word knowledge to help them to become better writers.” The program emphasizes correct spelling in everyday writing, not just to memorize words for an end-of-the-week test.
Every week students will be given ten words to practice. The ten spelling words will come from the mandated five “core words,” a couple of “no excuse words,” and then I will choose words I would like the students to practice whether it is content words, words I see often misspelled in their writing, or it can be tricky words.
“Core words” are words that Rebecca Sitton has decided are used most frequently in writing. Core words are the words by which students are sequentially taught skills and concepts, which show how and why words are spelled certain ways. These words comprise the daily instructional component of the program. “No excuse words” are words that the students are always accountable for in their writing across the curriculum.
On Fridays students will take a formative assessment of the high-frequency writing words via a “cloze story test.” When students are formally assessed it is for long term achievement of all words introduced in the program. Students are responsible for all previously taught words as they cycle through the program.
Spelling lists will be distributed on Mondays. Students will have spelling homework a couple times a week. In addition, I will provide a website (on a weekly basis, most likely at the bottom of the spelling list) that students can access spelling activities at home to help them practice the “core words.”
Please feel free to go to http://www.sittonspelling.com/ and http://eps.schoolspecialty.com/products/literacy/spelling-grammar/sitton-spelling-and-word-skills/about-the-program to access more information about Rebecca Sitton’s Spelling Program.