spelling pre-tests

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spelling pre-tests
By chris

I aided in 2nd grade & we gave pre-tests each Monday. If the student got 1 or 2 wrong, they were eligible for the "challenge" spelling list. We always had about 10 of our 28 students make it to the challenge list. On the
opposite spectrum were the 4-5 special students who would work from a modified "regular" spelling list (10 words instead of 16). The teacher had been doing this for years, so she had "challenge" lists already made up. Sometimes they would coincide with the "theme" or lesson of the regular list (silent e words, digraphs, etc.) Sometimes they would go with the current unit being studied

(desert words, reptile characteristics, etc.) The special ed teacher/tutor would modify the regular list for the other students.
Even if students were on the challenge list, they still had to do the spelling workbook pages from the regular unit. The special ed students would do selected sections. (As a note, by the end of the year our spec ed students were doing the whole list & all the sections in the workbook & doing a good job at it !)
On Friday, the spelling tests would be given at the same time. The special ed tutor would take out her group to her room. In the classroom the teacher & I would alternate giving words. I gave the regular list while she gave the challenge list. Different voices helped differentiate lists, but w/only 1 teacher this won't work.

Another option was used in my son's 5th grade classroom. If the student got a word correct on the pre-test, he substituted that word with an unfamiliar word from that weeks reading or the previous weeks reading. (They kept journals of unfamilair words while reading each chapter.) This resulted in each student having a unique spelling list, geared towards their need. Spelling tests were then adminstered by their peers (Tom & Bob giving each other words). It sounds confusing, but it worked for them!

Good Luck!