Grade 3 Spelling Curriculum:
Johnsburg Elementary School uses the Words Their Way spelling/word study program. This is a developmental spelling program that helps meet the needs of all students. Instead of drill and practice, as in a traditional spelling program, students sort words into categories that focus on patterns within words, sounds, word parts, and even vocabulary.
Students take a pretest in the beginning of the year and are placed into a spelling level that meets their needs. The levels are yellow, green, and blue. Within these levels there are sort numbers. For example, a child may be on Yellow Sort 7. Not all students will be on the same list at the same time.
Important Information for At Home Practice:
The level and sort your child is on will be written on their individual list that they will bring home. The list that comes home will be yours to keep at home, cut apart, and should be used to practice writing and sorting. Tutorial videos for each sort will be available to support your child’s learning! While your child will get to utilize these resources at school, please feel free to also take advantage of these excellent resources at home! Nightly spelling and sorting practice at home each night for 5-10 minutes will help your child be successful!
Tests:
Students will be tested on a sort approximately every one to two weeks. Unlike traditional spelling tests, students will not only need to know how to spell all the words, they will need to write them beneath the category in which they belong. Students will receive separate grades for sorting and spelling on each test. Advancement to the next sort is determined by multiple factors, including a student’s performance on the current sort’s test, periodic maintenance assessments, and daily performance and demonstration of understanding.
I am so excited to be able to differentiate spelling instruction for our students with this program! I also look forward to implementing technology to better meet the needs of our students as well!