school city of mishawakaspring 2007 getting started with sitton spelling and word skills a q&a...
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School City of Mishawaka Spring 2007
Getting Started with
Sitton Spelling and Word Skills
A Q&A of Tips & Tricks to Facilitate Implementation
~ Grade 6
School City of Mishawaka Spring 2007
How does Sitton Spelling and Word Skills differ from a traditional spelling program?• It is NOT exercises in memorization.• It IS a word study program.• Words studied are chosen based on frequency of
use.• Words are studied in context.• Students are learning to spell well for life, not for
a week.• Students work collaboratively.
School City of Mishawaka Spring 2007
How do I begin organizing for instruction?• Use page 402 of the teacher’s guide to plan.
• Read through the lesson.
• Decide what kinds of materials are necessary.
• Decide which optional lessons you will do.
School City of Mishawaka Spring 2007
What are the components of a typical unit?• It depends!
• Use your curriculum map and the planning guide on page 402 to help you decide.
School City of Mishawaka Spring 2007
Basics & Electives [as listed in the Sitton manual]
School City of Mishawaka Spring 2007
What is the focus of the “Build Skills and Word Experiences” part of the lesson?
• Teaches students processes and strategies for examining and thinking about words and their application in writing.
School City of Mishawaka Spring 2007
What is the Word Preview?
• A visual skill-building activity to assist students in picturing words letter by letter rather than as a whole word
School City of Mishawaka Spring 2007
What is the focus of the “Assess Words and Skills” part of the lesson?
• General word work now becomes specific word work.
• Personal spelling word lists are determined from the Cloze Story Word Test and the Sentence Dictation Test.
• Students do not prestudy the words for these tests.
School City of Mishawaka Spring 2007
How do I effectively use the posters?• Posters are a teaching tool as well as a
reference.
School City of Mishawaka Spring 2007
What materials need to be prepared in advance of the lesson?
• Materials needed depend on the lesson.
• It is best to look ahead to determine your needs.
• Do you have access to dictionaries and thesauruses?
School City of Mishawaka Spring 2007
How could students organize their materials?
• Notebook
• Folder
• Binder
School City of Mishawaka Spring 2007
How do I know which concepts/activities are the most important for my students to learn?
• Use the curriculum map.
• Think about student needs.
• When in doubt, do number 1.
School City of Mishawaka Spring 2007
Should I create a spelling list in addition to the cloze, skill, and dictation tests in the program?
• No! It is not necessary! ☺
• You may find occasions to have students learn a few content words.
School City of Mishawaka Spring 2007
What is the best way to incorporate the writing skills activities?
• Do during regular spelling time.
• Start or end the unit with poems.
• Integrate into Writing Workshop if applicable.
School City of Mishawaka Spring 2007
How can I determine spelling grades?
• Use tests and the Dear Parent letter.
• Assign point values for completion of various components.
• Take a random sampling of the no-excuse words.
School City of Mishawaka Spring 2007
What information should I share with parents?
• This is a word study program, not a memorization program.
• Sample pieces of student writing highlighting spelling skills
• Copies of tests and homework
• Take home tasks and parent/child activities
School City of Mishawaka Spring 2007
How do I subscribe to the Sitton newsletter?
Go to http://www.sittonspelling.com/ and click on the E-Newsletter link at the bottom of the page. You will come to this page where you may access the archived newsletters, as well as subscribe to future editions.