Spelling Dictionaries & Word Study Notebooks

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Home : 2002 : June : 29

Spelling Dictionaries & Word Study Notebooks
By Jane

I use a marble covered notebook for Word Study. The first 13 pages we make an individual dictionary, a letter of the alphabet on the front and back (xyz on one page).

The middle of the notebook is for vocabulary words.
Sometimes we work on Greek and Latin roots. Sometimes we have content vocabulary and sometimes we work with 5 new interesting verbs, nouns, etc. Essentially the middle of the notebook is to learn new words and their definitions with less of a stress on spelling.

The last 5 pages I use for individual spelling lists which the children study and work with each week. I only use a

10 word list so the students put 4 lists on a page.

As I look over weekly written work, I highlight misspelled words which the student enters into their personal dictionary. I also have a "Lexicon Line" hanging across the classroom (my version of a word wall for 5th grade). As I hang new words on the line each week, these words are also written into the personal dictionary.

When children make their own individualized list each week, they may use their personal dictionaries for words. After each spelling test, any words not mastered are highlighted in the list in the spelling section and then also entered in the personal dictionary also highlighted. The students are encouraged to try these words again at a later time and when they are mastered they are circled.

On Fridays I send home a stapled work packet for the week and I give the children time to find those highlighted misspelled words and to enter them in their dictionary.