Essential Word Lists
About the lists
In total there are seven word lists which make up approximately 73% of the words students will use when involved in writing.
It is important to note that the lists are organised in order of frequency of use rather than level of difficulty, as such. By the end of year six, students should be confidently spelling correctly all of the words from lists 1-6 (if not all of them).
Setting spelling words for homework
In the first week of school, students of Room 3 had a spelling test where 10 words from each of lists three to seven were selected. The lowest list number where they got one incorrect spelling has become their starting point for focusing on.
In many cases students will progress quickly through the lower lists as there may be only a very few that they do not automatically or confidently spell correctly as a matter of habit.
Once they have shown an ability to correctly spell every word from a particular list on more than one occasion, they will progress to the next list.
Why do many of the words in 'higher' lists appear to be quite easy?
The lists are based on frequency of use, so the aim is to have students suitably confident in spelling the bulk of words that they most commonly write. The more they write, the more words they will begin to select to use in their writing.
If students are confidently spelling over 70% of their writing correctly already, then that maximises their opportunities to focus on extending the content and structure of their writing, while minimising the amount of time required looking up how to spell 'common' words.
How can I as a parent help?
Students should have a copy of their list in the back of their homework book. Test them on the words they have selected to focus on, as well as some others from the list that they feel they have already mastered.
Once you have tested them on each of the words in the list, and they have mastered each word, you can sign the list as 'complete' (you may want to tick off words from the list when they have shown you that they can spell them correctly on more than one occasion).
Where next?
Students may end up working on different spelling goals either by creating spelling lists from words they have spelled incorrectly in their own work, or looking at particular spelling 'rules' or word families. This will enable them to strengthen their 'spelling sense' when writing.
essential_spelling_list_1-7_grouped.pdf | |
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