Word Work:
Your child is learning to spell and proofread. These two skills go hand in hand. Learning to spell is the first step, but a word is not considered mastered unless your child can spell the word correctly in writing. The second step - proofreading - is the real test of spelling ability. You see, in the "real world," spelling is judged by how words are spelled in writing. For this reason, it's important that your child understands that spelling words correctly in writing is a habit needed for a lifetime.
Some of the writing your child does at school is revised until there are no more errors. This is a strenuous task, so not all of your child's writing goes through this revision process. However, to become a good writer and speller, your child needs to write daily. In this everyday writing, approximations (invented) of spellings are accepted for a few words. Then, as your child's writing develops over time, these approximated spellings are no longer acceptable.
The words your child is expected to spell correctly all the time are called Priority Words. Sometimes they're referred to as "no excuse" words - there is no excuse for misspelling them! Your child has a list of Priority Words, and time is provided to proofread for them.
- Exercise Express is an in class assignment. Due on Friday.
- Take Home Task is sent home on Tuesday and due back on Friday.
- Words to Learn List will come home on Friday.