Spelling

In KS2 we have adopted “The Spelling Book” by Jane Constantine which is a structured, rigorous system built on the fundamentals of teaching spelling with strong phonic foundations. By breaking down the learning of spelling with repetitive contextual learning, we have reduced the need for spelling tests or spelling homework. The activities within the book meet all National Curriculum statutory requirements and objectives whilst at the same time building on them.

The Spelling Book is structured into weekly activities and investigations, functioning as a framework for lesson planning and resources for children and teachers to refer to. The books are referential and build on learning from earlier years to prepare pupils for later National Curriculum learning requirements.

Learning Sequence:

The Spelling Book is based around a two-week cycle that may be adapted and moulded to fit into timetables and other curriculum commitments in a flexible way at the teacher’s discretion. The outline below is how a typical two-week cycle may look:

Week 1:

i) Children are introduced to ‘spell it out’ words for a whole two week cycle. This selection of 10 - 15 words are displayed on a board in the classroom throughout the whole two-week cycle with the focus phoneme highlighted or identified in some way. Children to take on the role of ‘word detectives’ identifying the tricky bit of the word. Over the course of the two weeks, children and teacher to keep an eye out for words in reading books or other words with same focus phoneme.
ii) A ‘Long Investigation’ is carried out where the children investigate a particular area of spelling unrelated to the 10 – 15 focus words.

Week 2:

i) A ‘Go Grapheme Grafters’ activity is carried out where children work as pattern finders, identifying other words with the same grapheme making the same sound.
ii) At the end of the two weeks, the children are read each word in a sentence and attempt to spell the tricky parts correctly. This is a progress check, not a test.
iii) Five ‘Quick Spell’ 10 minute activities are carried out over the course of the the two week cycle.