Philosophy
The goal of the Rebecca Sitton Spelling Program is for students to learn to spell correctly in their everyday writing, not just for a Friday test. The time frame is not necessarily a Monday through Friday schedule, which allows for teachers to customize instruction to meet the needs of their classes. Students are held accountable across the curriculum for the correct spelling of priority words. The program recycles words and skills for long term mastery.
High-Frequency Writing Words
The Rebecca Sitton Spelling Program is based upon the most frequently used words. The highest frequency word in English is the, so the is the first word.
Core Words
Core words are the words by which students are sequentially taught skills and concepts, which show how and why words are spelled certain ways. These words comprise the daily instructional component of the program.
Core Words
Core words are divided by graded level as follows:
First Grade High-Frequency Writing Words 1 – 35
Second Grade High-Frequency Writing Words 36 – 170
Third Grade High-Frequency Writing Words 171 – 335
Fourth Grade High-Frequency Writing Words 336 – 500
Priority Words
Priority words are words that the students are always accountable for in their writing across the curriculum. They are broken down per quarter by grade level. Priority words are listed alphabetically so students may refer to them easily.
Priority words for each grade level are as follows:
First Grade Words 1 – 15
Second Grade Words 1 – 35
Third Grade Words 1 – 55
Fourth Grade Words 1 – 75
Assessment
When students are formally assessed it is for long term achievement of all words introduced thus far in the program. Students are responsible for all previously taught words as they cycle through the program.
How Parents Can Help
Students are encouraged to review words that have been previously introduced. Parents can assist their children in studying the words that appear on the words to learn sheet by using the five word study strategy steps which are as follows: 1. Read the word
2. Spell the word (touch each letter and say its name)
3. Cover the word
4. Print the word
5. Proofread the word (touch each letter and say its name)
Help your child to see connections between words. For example: If you can spell an then you can spell tan, ran, fan, etc. Help you child to proofread by touching every letter of every word in everything they write.Practice by writing sentences containing errors for students to find and correct. Encourage your child to increase their level of writing by expanding on sentences by using questions such as who, what, when, where, why and how. Explore with your child the similarities and differences that exist among words. Have children expand on word experiences. For example: words that end in g.
