Spell it Write

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Spell it Write
By Rachel

I am a new teacher, but I learned this method during student teaching. I am going to try it this year. This past year, I taught 3rd grade and because it was my first year, I went "by the book." I chose words from the reading
and every monday, we had a pretest. Then during the week, it was 5 times each, sentences, ABC order, etc...... (My personal experience- NOT EFFECTIVE)
This year, I am going to give a pretest every monday of 10 words. If the student gets the word correct, he/she does NOT have to have the word on his/her test on Friday (no point, they already know the word.) Instead, for every

word they get correct, they get to choose a word from their writing that they were having trouble with. They keep track of these words in a notebook entitled "My Word List" or "Words I need to know" (whatever.....)

Throughout the week, you and the students keep track. For example, if you are reading their social studies notebook and they spell communities wrong, you can circle it in a green pen (anything, but red), write the correct spelling and write the initials WJ next to it. This means, Word Journal and they need to immediately place it on their word list. You will be surprised how quickly their word list will fill up with spelling words. This is accomodating students of all abilities. Some will have the word "they" wrong, while others will be spelling fifth grade words incorrectly.

To sum up- students will choose words from their word list to put on their test every friday. On Friday, you have the students pair up to give each other the tests. I am going to keep the same partners every week. After they give each other their tests, you look them over. You grade? Have each other grade? Your choice.

On Friday, if they get the word from their word journal correct, they put a check in their word journal. They are required to have each word on 2 different tests before they are allowed to take it off their word journal. If they got the word wrong, it goes on their test again next Friday.

I know this sounds completely confusing. Email me to clarify and I will try to explain. It really is effective because the students are studying words with meaning, as opposed to random words the teacher chooses. If the teacher chooses easy words, what is that really assessing if the child gets 100 every week?? (My opinion)

I found this individualized assessment much more effective. Hope you do too.