Spelling Rotational Activities

So I've been doing a fair bit of research around spelling lately, particularly how to better utilise the THRASS resources that my school has invested in. There is also a fair amount of content in the NSW English Syllabus in regards to Spelling and I felt like I could teach it better. So I created the following activities to be used during Spelling lessons. The idea is that students rotate through the activities, completing two different activities each week. My hope is that through all of this word work, students will not only know how to spell a word, but they'll also learn how to construct it, where it comes from and how to apply it in their own writing.

Here are TWELVE of my Word Work activities (all resources included):

1. Stamp It

This is a really cute activity. I bought these alphabet stamps from Kmart for $5 and the containers to put them in for $2.50. The idea is that the students stamp out their spelling words in their workbooks. I just wanted students to get as much practice as possible while catering to different learning styles. This is a great hands-on activity.

2. Built It

For this activity, students are to build their spelling words using magnetic letters. I bought tubs of magnetic letters from Aldi a couple of years ago now. I unfortunately haven't seen them since. Magnetic letters and whiteboards can be quite pricey, but they're definitely worth it.

3. Make It

Here is another hands-on activity for students to practice their spelling words. For this activity, students make their spelling words with play dough. Needless to say, this activity is very popular!

4. Sign It

As the new English Syllabus (NSW) content includes developing and applying contextual understanding of Auslan, I thought it only appropriate to teach my students some sign language. In this activity, students finger-spell their spelling words. I found this very easy to read poster from TeachStarter.com

5. Type It

I saw this activity originally on Pinterest but the idea is that students type out their spelling words on a QWERTY keyboard template. I just got my template from the internet.

6. Text It

I found this very cute iPad template on Teachers Pay Teachers. A lady named Christina Winter created it and you can download it for FREE HERE. I laminated the templates so that students can write their words on it using a whiteboard marker. Once they've written out their words, they text them. Alternatively you could just use an iPad… but I don't always have access to a set.

7. Rainbow Words

From the same creator, Christina Winter has created a Rainbow Words worksheet. You can download it HERE for FREE.

8. THRASS Match

I made this activity for my class. I wanted to strengthen their knowledge of the THRASS chart by matching the corresponding word with the phoneme (correct grapheme). These cards are great because you can play Snap and Memory with them also. Students can also spread the cards across the floor and create a large version of the THRASS chart by placing the cards in the correct order. You can download a copy of this activity HERE (vowels) and HERE (consonants).

9. Front or Back (Morphology)

This is a great activity for students to learn extensions (prefixes and suffixes) and how to apply them to their spelling words. Students write their word in the centre of the card and then add prefixes and/or suffixes, taking note of what sounds and looks right. You can download a copy of everything you need HERE (card to write on), HERE (prefixes) and HERE (suffixes).

10. THRASS It

For this activity, students construct their words using the THRASS phoneme-grapheme cards. It's a simple activity in concept, but students really have to think about the individual sounds which can be quite tricky. Students will need a THRASS chart to help them work through this activity. You can download a copy of this activity HERE.

11. Phoneme Frames

For this activity, students write out their words and then break the words into the individual phonemes by writing them in the smaller boxes. For example: TABLE | T - A - B - LE | You can download this worksheet HERE.

12. Word Origins (Etymology)

I think it is so important that students know where their words have come from, whether it be Latin, Greek, etc. By knowing WHERE the word originates from, students are given clues to know HOW to spell the word. There's a few Etymology Dictionaries out there and sometimes class dictionaries may include the origin next to the definition of the word being looked up. However, I really like using etymonline.com

The idea is that I start the lesson off very structured. I read the words out, we break the words down and identify the sound we're looking at for that week. We talk about possible meanings and discuss similar words. Students then complete TWO of the above activities independently. However, although the lesson is independent the activity itself is very structured.

The next day during Literacy Groups, students complete a spelling worksheet where they write their words out, find the definitions and write the words in sentences. You can download a copy of my worksheet HERE.

What do you do during Spelling lessons? I'd love to hear from you - comment below or send me an email at rach.sellen@gmail.com 

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!

I have a Poll <--

Hi there everyone,

I've just created a poll (to the left) and it would be greatly appreciated if you could read it and click on all of the options that are appropriate for you.

Just wanted to know what you're all interested in and what you'd like to read in the future.

The poll will close the 31st of July 2016.

Thanks in advance! :)

Returning to Teaching from Maternity Leave

I haven't been writing much lately and that's because in October 2014, I found out that I was pregnant after two years of "trying". Earlier that year I was diagnosed with PCOS and so through diet, exercise and metformin, I was able to successfully fall pregnant.

I took an entire year off from work once I had my bub, but I have now returned in a part-time capacity. I'm only working two days… and I've come to realise that two days is really tricky. Two days away from my little boy seems like FOREVER, and yet when I'm at work, two days is far too short to get everything done. It's also hard because while you're part-time, you're sometimes expected to program and do work like that of someone working a full load.

Anyway, my first day back was horrendous. I had to firstly find something that fit my new, squishy body. I then had to find my handbag, a USB and a pen to write with. On my way to work I had to fight back the tears because I knew once I got started, I'd never stop. When I finally arrived it was a Staff Development Day… WHICH WAS AWESOME because I thought I could acclimatise to everything. But then I was hit with "pedagogy" and "theories" and "PDPs" and all of these new acronyms I had never heard of before.

Image taken from BuzzFeed.com

I felt out of my depth.

I've been back to work for seven weeks now and I'm happy to say that my brain is starting to work again. Terms are coming back to me and so is my confidence (although it's still got a little while to go). Over the next couple of weeks I'm going to update my THRASS and spelling resources. I will share my ideas here with you all -- so watch this space.

I will also be sharing a stack of ATSI websites/ resources and interactives that I have found whilst on Mat Leave just in time for NAIDOC week.

And finally I will be sharing my TOP EIGHT TIPS for heading back to teaching from Maternity Leave.

So keep an eye out for my new posts and feel free to comment below with you 'back to work from maternity leave' story. Surely I'm not the only one who found it difficult???

THRASS

Yesterday and the day before, my colleague and I attended the THRASS two-day workshop and it was AMAZING! For those who haven't heard of THRASS, it stands for Teaching Handwriting, Reading And Spelling Skills. Denyse Ritchie (co-writer of THRASS) ran the course over in Bankstown... and while I came home with a headache... I feel as though my world has changed.

I have attached a few links below to videos I've found on youtube which give a rough idea of the program. Unfortunately they're not great quality... but at least you get the idea!

Interview with Denyse Ritchie: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBUmwTQyGfo


THRASS in South Africa: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naAuq7Cfuco

THRASS Rap: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqdVUolMPbs

THRASS is taught throughout the UK, Canada, Africa, Asia and Australia. The program relies heavily upon the THRASS chart (as seen in the videos) and addresses all 44 phonemes. 

I am absolutely in love with it already! I can't wait to jump straight into it all this coming week!

Check out the THRASS website for more information. If you book into their two-day course before July 2014, they give you a THRASS resource kit (usually $250) for FREE!

I'll keep you posted with how I go! :)