Grade 5 Spelling
Spelling Packet
Please look at your child's spelling word list for their spelling test date.
5th Grade Spelling Strategies: The fifth grade spelling/word study program is based primarily on spelling patterns using prefixes, suffixes, and derivatives. Students will study words with an assigned spelling pattern for a two-week period. Teachers will assign a variety of spelling and vocabulary development activities for class work and homework during each two week period for the purpose of helping students learn both the spellings and the meanings of the words. There will be a spelling test at the end of each biweekly period.
Introduction of the Spelling Patterns: In class, students are given the spelling patterns (e.g., the prefixes fore and inter.) Students brainstorm lists of possible words and make their individual word lists from these lists and from searching for words in their reading books and in dictionaries. Pattern words are "core words." Each student chooses 10 core words and adds 5 personal words from lists of words taken from reading, writing, the content areas, or simply words of interest. The following are examples of activities that teachers may use in class or at home to enrich our spelling program.
Make Connections: A paper for students to associate similarities between words. Students make connections by:
- finding words within words
- making word families
- identifying synonyms
- identifying antonyms
- identifying parts of speech
Finding Word Meanings: Looking up words in the dictionary and writing the meanings.
Vocabulary Webs: Students choose one word for more in-depth study using a vocabulary web paper to record information about the word.
Buddy Check: Students pair with an assigned buddy for tests. Students check their own papers, identify incorrect spellings, and develop strategies to spell the word correctly the next time.
Spelling Test: Individual teachers will make specific assignments with due dates, which may differ among classes due to slightly differing schedules.