Programming for Spelling while incorporating the THRASS program

A couple of years ago now, I was formally trained in THRASS. I remember coming home absolutely exhausted but inspired about what I had learned. I began incorporating what I learned into my own teaching, but it has taken time. My colleague and I had to think of a way to inspire the teachers back at home and think of ways to incorporate our knowledge across Years 3-6.

We ended up creating a program that contained eight spelling lists that looked at one phoneme a week. The idea was, that teachers could pick a list that best fit their class/ group of students. It was flexible enough, that the program could work around their own teaching practices. I guess it achieved what we set out for it to do.

However, my colleague and I feel that we need to update our programs. So for this blog post I thought I'd share some of the PROS and CONS to our current program and share where we want to go with it all next.

As I mentioned, our Years 3-6 program has eight differentiated lists to cater to the varying spelling abilities. Each week we look at a different THRASS phoneme. We study a consonant, followed by a vowel, and then repeat. Our program looks like this:

You can download a copy of our program HERE.

Now here are some of the PROS:

• All of the hard work was done. Teachers didn't have to think about spelling lists and themes. It was already done for them.
• Across the year, students are exposed to all 44 speech sounds (phonemes).
• The program is simple and easy to use. So even if a teacher hasn't participated in formal training, they should be able to effectively use the program.

And now here are some of the CONS:

• Phonological strategies is only one small part of the content that needs to be covered in "Spelling". Students need to also look at word origins, base words, suffixes and prefixes, etc.
• While the program provided teachers with a spelling list, it didn't effectively provide teachers with a template of HOW to teach spelling.
• The program did not include any word work activities and strategies.
• My colleague and I did not have a proper opportunity to explain the program to all staff before it was implemented.
• Not enough teachers at my school had been formally trained in THRASS.
• We are working with a limited amount of THRASS resources as our school is building up their collection.
• The THRASS program itself, is a whole-school program. However, we were only teaching students from Years 3-6 (this was originally decided upon due to lack of resources).

So we decided to do some research and figure out ways to IMPROVE our current Spelling program. That was when I stumbled across Normanton State School's whole-school Spelling Program. My mind was blown at the amount of work the teachers over there had invested into such an impressive document. YOU HAVE TO CHECK IT OUT! You can download a copy of it HERE.

The Normanton State School Spelling Program (NSSSP) explicitly explains HOW spelling should be taught. It also provides teachers with already created spelling lists as well as word work activities. The NSSSP document also includes spelling assessments for each grade and a comprehensive marking guide. The program extends from Kindergarten (or Prep) right through to Year 10. And finally it also covers most elements (if not all) of word knowledge across their spelling lists. What more could I ask for?

I feel like this program has inspired me to update our current program so that it is of a similar standard.

So… Where to now???

The plan is to meet with teachers in the Spelling Committee at my school, and share the Normanton State School Spelling Program. Hopefully my colleagues will be just as excited as I am! In the meantime, as holidays are fast approaching, I will endeavour to create as many word work activities as I possibly can. I want to begin improving my Spelling Lessons as of DAY ONE of TERM THREE.

Over the coming weeks I will share some of the independent and small group activities that I am working on as well as some FREEBIES. So be sure to check back!

Literacy Groups/ Centres/ Rotations

I call them Literacy Groups, but you may call them something different.

Regardless... here is a quick overview of how I have organised my groups this year.

I have FIVE groups: Rodda, Jennings, Glietzman, Thompson and Griffith (surnames of authors) and all five groups are mixed ability groups.

The stationery packs that I wrote about in my previous blog now have name tags and look like this -->

I have made an extra name tag to put on a tub where the stationery packs and their Literacy Group folders will be stored.

I bought the tubs/drawers from K-Mart. They're called '4 Tier Chrome Drawer Trolley' and I found them in the bathroom section... I have no idea why!

They're currently being sold for $24... which I think is an absolute bargain. I actually bought them last year and they are still in good condition. Check the drawers out at the following link: Product: 4 Tier Chrome Drawer Trolley - Kmart

Each student will have their own Literacy Folder. In their Literacy Folder they will store their worksheets, workbook and School Magazines. I like when everything has a home and can be stored away neatly. I bought the folders from TARGET for a bargain (5 folders for $1.50).

I will keep you posted with the final product!

The 2014 school year is here!

Yes... you read correctly!

The 2014 school year is here and I have decided to start a blog (thanks to my good friend Jess). 

I do not claim to be an expert... but I thought this would be a cool way to share some of my teaching ideas and get some feedback from anyone willing to share.

This will be my fourth year teaching... and my fourth year on Stage 3. I have spent the past three years on Year 6 and I am excited to take on the new challenge of Year 5 for 2014.

I have been getting things ready for the new year and have come across these cool pencil cases. They're in the 'Back to School' sale at TARGET and they are only $5 each!!! They also include pens, but I've taken them out and I'll use them for something else. 

I am in the middle of making labels for them and I will use them in Literacy Groups. The whole idea is that each group will have one and when they break off for their activities, they will have everything they need. I will nominate one person per week to make sure that everything is put back into the case.

Pack includes: 12x markers, 12x coloured pencils, 3x HB pencils, 2x erasers, 1x pencil sharpener, 1x highlighter, 3x ballpoint pens, 3x gel pens, 1x scissors, 1x glue stick, 1x stapler, 1x 30cm ruler and a PVC pouch.

In the same sale, they have FIVE document wallets with buttons on sale for $1.50... and at K-Mart they have the same deal for only $1.00!!!

Over the next two weeks I will be posting more of my back-to-school ideas. 

I hope you enjoy!

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