I will be giving the students daily homework assignments. I
believe it is important to get the practice at home as well as school.
Please allow your child to have a quiet place at home to do his/her
homework. Students will be given a Spelling Practice Sheet on Tuesdays.
This will be due back to me on Thursdays. Students will also have a Daily
Geography page to complete each week. Students will be assigned 2 questions
per night to answer, but they may go ahead and answer all the questions if
they choose to do so. There will be Math practice sent home each night as
well. I also require students to read 20 minutes each night and record this
on his/her Reading Record with a parent's signature.
Please see your child's daily agenda for homework assignments.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Spelling Words and Tests
Our classroom uses the research based Sitton Spelling program. The Sitton
Spelling philosophy is that words aren't really "mastered" until they are
spelled correctly in everyday writing. Many students can memorize words for
a "Friday Test" but if there is no transfer to student writing, what's the
point? Fourth graders are responsible to learn "core words" 336-500 from
the list of 1200 words. Words are arranged on the list in the order of
frequency of use in everyday writing. In addition, words on the "NoExcuses"
(Priority Word List) are words that should have 100% mastery for fourth
graders.
I will teach spelling lessons and strategies such as spelling rules,
phonics, word patterns etc. Students will have classroom assignments to
practice their spelling skills in context. Visual skills are developed and
practiced such as proofreading. While the core word list may
look easy,remember that these words are also the words that might be
misspelled or used incorrectly in everyday written work.
How are students Assessed?
Students are assessed using their everyday writing. Random checks will be
made to classroom assignments. They could be graded for spelling - science,
social studies, language arts, math. In addition, a "cloze story" test is
given in which students listen to a passage read by the teacher and fill in
the missing words in the story. These words come from the core word and
priority word lists.
