Spelling
Children can find writing a real challenge; especially if they do not read at home for pleasure. They need encouragement, support and praise for their efforts. You can best support them by encouraging them write on every possible occasion, praising their efforts and, importantly, by letting them see you writing whenever possible. You can play word games with them (e.g. Scrabble), you can discuss interesting or new words which you have read and you can compose e-mails, letters and stories together.
Most adults, even if we consider ourselves to be good spellers, make spelling mistakes at some point. The important thing is that we know what to do when we get stuck and we know how to correct our mistakes.
The English language is rich and complex; but, despite its difficulty, 85% of the English spelling system is predictable. Your child will learn the rules and conventions of the system and the spelling strategies needed to become a confident speller.
At Haslington Primary School we deliver spelling in line with the new National Curriculum, using ‘Raintree’ spelling to support with the delivery of lesons. Spellings from the National Curriculum are taught in English lessons across the school and children will receive activities to reinforce this learning. From time to time children may bring these words home to learn. In addition to this we also use spellings from the Read Write Inc scheme.
Spellings can be tailored to an individual child’s need. Teachers’ use spellings identified in the child’s writing to set home spelling lists which are then followed up in the classroom. These words are provided on a Look Say Cover Write Check sheet. [There is a blank version of the sheet at the bottom of this page for you to download]. Children are asked to apply these spelling in their written work, rather than have a spelling test. In addition to this, children are provided with spellings linked to the sound they are learning to read in Read Write Inc lessons. These lists are sent home for reading and spelling practice.
In KS1 and KS2 spellings are taught from the National Curriculum. All children complete a diagnostic spelling task in September and these scores are used to determine which ‘set’ the children will be placed into. From here children are given spelling lists to learn each week at home, with interactive games available on-line to support their learning. In school, children use the ipads to complete a spelling test each week. Scores are recorded by the teacher and new spellings are set depending on the score achieved. Where a child needs further practice, they may be asked to re-visit their existing list.
Children are able to practise their spellings in any way which suits them best; you may prefer them to practise spellings on paper or using apps you have found online. Please see the link at the bottom of the page for the KS2 to practise spellings.
Here are some of the strategies that will help your child become a confident and accurate speller:
- Sounding words out: breaking the word down into phonemes (c-a-t) – however, many complicated words can not be sounded out so other strategies are needed;
- Dividing the word into syllables, say each syllable as they write the word ( re-mem-ber);
- Using the Look, say, cover, write, check strategy: look at the word and say it out aloud, then cover it, write it and check to see if it is correct. If not, highlight or underline the incorrect part and repeat the process;
- Using mnemonics as an aid to memorising a tricky word (rhythm: rhythm helps your two hips move);
- Finding words within words (lie in believe)
- Making connections between the meaning of words and their spelling (e.g. sign, signal, signature)
- Working out spelling rules for themselves – please see below;
- Having a dictionary on mobile phones and tablets.
Files To Download
Look Say Cover Write Check Sheet – Spelling Chart
Year 1 Common exception words
Year 2 common exception words
Year 3 and 4 common exception words
Year 5 and 6 common exception words
Raintree spelling pathway