 | Reading, Reading, and more Reading.... The best way to learn how to
spell. Generally students whose spelling is significantly below grade
level do not read at grade level. Therefore they do not see the grade 4
vocabulary spelled correctly often enough for their brains to absorb the
proper spelling. In order for students to improve their spelling, they need to
improve their sight vocabulary by reading much material at the appropriate
reading level. Students today spend much less time reading because of the
amount of time spent on computers, playing computerized games and watching
television. This results in many students having poor spelling. It does not
help that many also use MS Messenger which encourages creative spelling and
that advertisers often warp the proper spelling of words to catch your eye in
print ads.
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| Weekly Spelling Assignments & Tests
 | Text: The Canadian Spelling Program II |
| there will be about 36 weekly spelling lists |
| the Spelling Pre-Test is done on Monday and is
written into the Spelling Duo-Tang |
| class time is given to do assignments
and they are taken up in class on Thursday |
| weekly spelling tests are also given on Thursday |
| spelling lists & assignments in the Spelling
Duo-Tang will be used to evaluate handwriting
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| SSQ - Spelling Skills Quizzes
| There are 30 weeks of additional vocabulary & skill building activities |
| SSQ sheets are in a duo-tang |
| One sheet per week is assigned for home completion |
| SSQ is due on Mondays
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| When is proper spelling expected?
| proper spelling is expected in all work that is
copied off the board and for the Agenda |
| published works should be edited for spelling |
| spelling is not checked or marked in Home Journal
writing or in writing assignments where the objective is to see
what the student knows |
| parents are encouraged to have students fix their spelling by editing
work that is brought home |
| poorly formed letters & incorrect use of
capital letters will count as spelling mistakes on tests |
| diagnostic spelling tests will be administered 3
times in the year to establish grade level equivalencies
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| Spelling in the English language is quite absurd
at times. To see examples of cute poems written about this topic,
click here. Nevertheless, we all learn how to
spell. The exceptions to that statement are those who do not read enough and a
few unfortunate whose brains are hardwired to not retain proper spelling.
(These are the people who really need spell checkers). |