This unique spelling program was put together with middle school students in mind!
- The spelling words chosen for the program were generated from three areas: teacher recommended, commonly used, and frequently misspelled words.
- Each lesson focuses on phonics/letter patterns or a spelling rule. Even when the lesson is over, students should apply these same letter patterns/rules when reading (decoding unknown words) and writing on their own.
- Students do more than just write their spelling words each week. While practicing their words, they are asked to create different types of sentences. These sentences include many of the writing skills we review/teach in language arts. Skills taught in one lesson will show up again in future lessons.
- Lessons include practicing proper nouns, possessives, antonyms, synonyms, homonyms, the use of a/an, writing titles, action verbs, questions, quotation, compound sentences, and much more.
- A Writing Reminders page guides all students to complete the lessons correctly by giving definitions and examples of the skills students will be practicing in their lessons.
- The Skill Practices (every 3rd week) are "mini-lessons" that include alphabetizing, creative writing, syllables, and much more.
- Each lesson takes only minutes to teach on Monday. Students are responsible for a 15-20 minute homework assignment each week. This fits in nicely with the typical 45 minute block of time most middle schools allow for language arts.
Students like the program because it's different and fun! They like the fact that they can create their own sentences. Teachers enjoy it because it reinforces the skills they teach. Skills reviewed in one lesson are reviewed in other lessons throughout the year.