Check out our FREE sight word worksheets – we have over 150 in our database!
Learning to spell is a progressive process (just like reading and writing), which typically begins using inventive spelling and gradually progresses to conventionally correct spelling by the end of second grade.
Knowing prefixes, suffixes and root words can help a child unlock the meaning of a word.
| Grade | Spelling Benchmarks (End of Year) |
| Kindergarten | Uses inventive spelling; knowledge of letter-sound relationships to attempt to spell words |
| 1st Grade | Spells previously taught words, sight words and frequently used irregular words correctly. Uses inventive spelling to spell untaught words. |
| 2nd Grade | Spells sight words, irregular words and words that follow phonetic generalizations correctly. |
| 3rd Grade | Spells commonly used words correctly. Spelling bees typically begin in this grade. |
| 4th Grade | Uses references to spell words correctly, e.g., dictionary. Look out for those commonly misspelled words. |
| 5th Grade | Uses references to spell words correctly, e.g., dictionary. |
Most English words follow a pattern; they often have similar sounds (rhymes) or spellings. However, there are a few exceptions. In fact, there are a handful of words that do not rhyme with another word. We like to refer to these words as standalones. Words That Don’t Rhyme The twenty words below do rhyme with…
Homophones are words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings. Many children will struggle with using the correct word when writing or reading. We created over 15 homophone worksheets to help your child or student master these words. The three most difficult ones are as follows: Its vs. It’s, There vs. They’re…
The prefix, multi-, implies many, much or more than two. Words with the Prefix Multi- We created the list of words with the prefix multi- by referencing two dictionaries: Merriam-Webster Children’s Dictionary and Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary. We limited these words to those most appropriate for a child in grades 5 through 8 or ages 10…
The prefix, mono- and mon-, implies one, single or alone. Words with the Prefix Mono- and Mon- We created the list of words with the prefix mono- and mon- by referencing two dictionaries: Merriam-Webster Children’s Dictionary and Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary. We limited these words to those most appropriate for a child in grades 5 through…
The prefix, bio-, implies of or related to life or living organisms. Words with the Prefix Bio- We created the list of words with the prefix bio- by referencing two dictionaries: Merriam-Webster Children’s Dictionary and Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary. We limited the bio- words to those most appropriate for a child in grades 5 through 8…
The long a sound can be spelled several ways. The magic e or final e and the open syllable are the most common ways. In addition, the long a sound can be represented in 2 vowel teams (“ai” and “ay”). Of course, there will be exceptions or odd balls- the irregular vowel team (“ei”). Five…