Word Study and Spelling Parent Seminar

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Word Study and SpellingParent Seminar

• January 16, 2008

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Can you spell.?
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Why a new approach?

• Students writing samples show consistent
  misspellings of high-frequency words and words
  that students have been familiar with over the
  years.
• Traditional programs do not often emphasize
  accurate spelling within everyday writing.
• After listening to teachers concerns, the
  district researched, piloted and adopted a
  well-known, research-based program Rebecca
  Sitton Word Study Spelling Program.

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Why was this program chosen?

• It treats spelling and word study as integral
  components of writing and not as isolated skills.
• It emphasizes the transference of accurate
  spelling to everyday writing.
• It is a nationally-used, research-based, Grade 1
  8 spiraling program that is in its 3rd Edition.
• It is new for us this year, but teachers who
  piloted and examined the program last year
  believe it matches the philosophy of our
  district, supports best practice, and matches our
  high expectations for our students as writers.

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Foundations of the Program

• 1) High Frequency Spelling Words (Core Words
  Priority Words) and
• 2) Word Study

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1) High Frequency Spelling Words

• What are these words? Where did they come from?

CORE WORDS
PRIORITY WORDS
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2) Word Study

• This is the study of word and spelling patterns
  within our English language.
• These lessons are taught in class.
• There are 5 basic components within a Unit.

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How does the program work?

• 5 Basic Components
• Build Visual Skills
• Build Basic Concepts
• Build Assessment Readiness
• Build Proofreading Skills
• Assessment of Spelling Progress
• Optional or Extending activities are also
  offered in the program.

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1) Building Visual Skills

• Purpose To develop an editing strategy where
  students see each sequential letter in a word.
• Apples, Apples everywhere experience
• Proofreading eyes vs. Reading eyes

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2) Build Basic Concepts

• Purpose These are carefully designed activities
  that ensure a systematic presentation of spelling
  skills and word study concepts.
• During the course of a Unit, students will engage
  in multiple activities around a number of word
  study concepts.
• A Unit may start on any day of the week and end
  when the teacher determines that his/her students
  have had enough experiences with this concept.
• Lets watch a DVD clip

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3) Building Assessment Readiness

• Purpose To provide more practice focusing on
  essential skills that will be assessed at the end
  of the unit.
• 2 parts At School and At Home
• At home for practice comes with a Dear Parents
  component (one per Unit).

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4) Build Proofreading Skills

• Purpose To reinforce the understanding that
  accurate spelling occurs within students
  writing.
• Teachers track students ability to meet a
  minimum competency for spelling and proofreading
  within selected samples of their everyday
  writing.
• Bracketing writing to check for spelling in a
  part of your childs writing

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5) Assessing Spelling Progress

• Purpose To assess long-term spelling achievement
  of all Core Words introduced so far in the
  program.
• Two choices Word Test and Sentence Dictation
• Emphasizes long-term mastery and not cramming
  for the Friday test syndrome
• Example of Cloze Word Test
• After the Cloze Test

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Optional and Extension Activities

• 1) Building Spelling and Language Skills through
  quick Exercise Express activities Stretch It,
  Fix It, Sort It, Add It, Finish It and Find It.
• 2) Building Reading and Writing connections
  examples
• 3) Building Skillful Writers (G. 4 5) for
  further discussion points or practice embedded in
  a total language program.

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Pulling it all together
Lets review what we heard tonight
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What can you do at home?

• Practice Core and Priority words
• Keep a Spelling Folder at home
• Work with your child on the At Home activities
  and read through Sittons Dear Parents
  introduction sections
• Read your childs writing and help him/her edit
  for the Core/Priority words and other concepts
  that you know have been taught in your childs
  class
• Work with your child on the words that come home
  after the Cloze assessment
• Help your child see ways to be a visual
  speller
• Access the Sitton Website for more information
  and,
• Never underestimate yourself as a model! Talk
  aloud your own thought processes as you read,
  write, spell and edit.

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Thank you for coming!

• Are there any questions for us?
• To learn more
• http//www.sittonspelling.com/