HCS uses the spelling program that corresponds with the McGraw-Hill Reading Curriculum. The program is what you have become quite familiar with whether your child has attended HCS for 4 years or has just begun this year. One of the goals of HCS is to teach our kids strategies to become better spellers in writing, not just spell well on a test; we want them to be lifetime spellers and not just memorizers of words.
This program includes:
A 4th grade level “No Excuse List” (Priority Words). These are words that students are expected to spell correctly all the time in all subjects during the year. This list is to be in the student’s KNIGHTs binder at all times.
A list of “Core Words”. Core words are high frequency words (taken from the reading unit and ‘everyday’ life) which fourth grade students are to spell correctly in all of their daily writing. Students are encouraged to proofread their writing using the list in their student book.
A “Words to Learn” list of spelling words your child has not yet mastered. These words will continue to appear on future tests.
The grading system will comprise of the following:
Spelling Packet completion
Skills test
Sentence dictation
Cloze Story Test (Example)
Priority words on assignments in other subjects
CUPS: Words not capitalized correctly will be counted as misspelled.
IE. lions live in africa. (incorrect) / Lions live in Africa. (correct)
Core Word List
Core words are the words by which students are sequentially taught skills and concepts, which show how and why words are spelled certain ways. This list will ‘grow’ with each chapter from the reading curriculum. These words comprise the daily instructional component of the program. There will be a unit test at the end of each unit.
Listen to the story as it is being read by the teacher.
Touch each word as the teacher is reading.
After the story is read one time the teacher will read it again.
Write the word that is read in the correct blank.
The teacher reads:
Thomas's class is taking a (1) weekend nature trip to (2) Devil's Island, and his bionic best friend is (3) coming along for fun. But (4) danger is in the air. (5) Legend has it (6) there's a secret volcano on the island. Could (7) someone be plotting to (8) activate it and destroy Thomas's nearby (9) hometown? Luckily, Thomas and McGrowl (10) are on the case.
While the teacher is re-reading the passage, students write in the correct words.: Thomas's class is taking a (1) ____________ nature trip to (2) ____________ ____________, and his bionic best friend is (3) ____________ along for fun. But (4) ____________ is in the air. (5) ____________ has it (6) ____________ a secret volcano on the island. Could (7) ____________ be plotting to (8) ____________ it and destroy Thomas's nearby (9) ____________? Luckily, Thomas and McGrowl (10) ____________ on the case.
(passage taken from: 'McGrowl - Every Dog Has His Day' by Bob Balaban (Scholastic, Inc.)
Unit 1
(htm file)
Weekly Spelling Lists for Unit 1
Unit 2
(htm file)
Weekly Spelling Lists for Unit 2
Unit 3
(htm file)
Weekly Spelling Lists for Unit 3
Unit 4
(htm file)
Weekly Spelling Lists for Unit 4
Unit 5
(htm file)
Weekly Spelling Lists for Unit 5
Unit 6
(htm file)
Weekly Spelling Lists for Unit 6
doc file: You need the Microsoft Word program, a free Microsoft Word viewer, or a program that can import Word files in order to view this file. To learn more about the free Microsoft Word Viewer, visit the Microsoft Word website.
Core Words Spelling Games A school from Michigan (where I'm from!) uses the Sitton Spelling program ... although we do not follow their units, many of the words are from our 4th Grade Core Word List and our No Excuse Word List. Students can begin with unit 1 and work through the units gaining expertise with each level/game.
Mrs. Walker's 4th Grade Website Hershey Christian School P.O. Box 378 Hershey, PA 17033
