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kitkat · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 6:38 am Post subject: spelllings

I have just been given a year 3 spelling group. I am working through the high frequency words. I have no idea of how to keep them interested. I don't just want to give them a spelling test every week, I have a couple of ideas for games such as bingo. rhyming words, find the word.
I will have the group for half an hour a week, and during that time I have to test them. Thats all I have been told I have to do. Do I give them a special book to take their new spellings home with them or do I just give them a piece of paper with them on? I would ask the teachers but they are so busy with the beginning of term with the new ones. I have been told that the group will start on Monday!!
Thank you.

-Star- · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 7:19 am Post subject:

Do you do "probes" in your school? Amazingly the children love it, however boring it looks at first glance. If you're not familiar with it I'll send you instructions of the worksheets, etc, cos it looks really complicated until you have actually done it yourself.

I am year 3 as well btw. Is your group the low end?

starlight · New kid Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 39 Location: DERBYSHIRE

could you use a computer program like word shark? have used it with year 1 and 2

hollyw · Top poster Joined: 18 Oct 2007 Posts: 1645

Some children find it easier to remember spellings if they are used in sentences rather than random so you could prepare sentences so the children can add the word.

Dinny · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 4:01 pm Post subject:

I agree with starlight, Wordshark is good,as is Starspell.

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kitkat · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 7:44 am Post subject:

I do have wordshark and wordspell forgot about them. Thankyou. All I have to do now is find a computer that works in the area that I have found to be empty at the time I want to use it. Confusing and complicated.

Star, what is probes? I am ready to take anything on board that the children enjoy,

-Star- · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 1:26 pm Post subject:

I've got visitors this weekend, but on Monday I'll give you full details, incl scans of the worksheets. Basically it is working on each child's individual HF words, with a check grid and a timer. Each day they have 1 minute to get as many correct as possible. I usually give them between 5 and 10 to learn at a time, depending on ability. When they get them all right three times in a row I give them a star and they move on to another set of words to learn. Eventually when they have learned the entire list I give them a certificate.
They all love doing it and enjoy working to "beat the clock".

bobette · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 5:35 pm Post subject:

I too have a Year 3 spelling group. Won't have access to a computer though.

I have 14 children in my group so am trying to think of ways to keep them motivated.

Does anyone have any ideas for word games??

tiggersmum · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 11:16 am Post subject:

Have you tried rainbow writing or quick write? Rainbow writing- get the child to write the word correct spelling then write over it with a coloured pen or crayon, saying each letter as they do it. Do this five times for each spelling using a different colour each time.
Quick write is basically use a timer, write the word correct spelling as many times as they can in one or two minutes then see who has the most correct. Get the children to mark each others work, each week have a competiton to see who gets the most right.

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bobette · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 11:32 am Post subject:

for the ideas Tiggersmum!

Been having a look through the L&S handbook and there doesn't seem to many ideas in there for the higher stages. In the past, we have just used phoneme frames and writing the words in sentences but have done that before and the kids get bored doing the same thing every week.

If anybody has any more ideas, I'd be really grateful!

-Star- · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 3:43 pm Post subject:

I have just spent ages drawing up Probes grids and instructions, but I tried to put them on photobucket and because they are Word files they won't upload! So if anyone wants them emailing to you, pm me your email addy and I'll send them. Or draw them up yourself! Very Happy

edit - here are screenshots of them on photobucket.

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kitkat · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 4:34 pm Post subject:

they look great. thankyou for spending the time to help.

zx · Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 6:55 pm Post subject:

After the test. I hand out next week's words.

We spend 10-15 mins making up sentences with the words in.