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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. |
An open syllable occurs when a vowel is at the end of the syllable, resulting in the long vowel sound, e.g. pa/per, e/ven, o/pen, go & we. Open syllable words are open because they are not closed by a consonant. Whereas a closed syllable occurs when a syllable ends with a consonant, resulting in a…
It is more common to find the letter “y” as a vowel than as a consonant. Typically, the letter “y” is a consonant when it is at the beginning of a word, e.g., yes, you, yard and young. If the letter “y” is located in the middle or end of the word, it is often…
A syllable is a unit of spoken language that always contains a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u and sometimes y). In fact, a syllable is a word or part of a word with a vowel sound. Breaking words into syllables is an important skill that assists when decoding unfamiliar words. Syllable Types There…
Magic E Rule: The magic E rule states when the letter “e” sits at the end of the word, it is usually silent and the “magical” E tells the first vowel or the preceding vowel to say its name or long sound. The magic e vowels are as follows: a_e, i_e, o_e and u_e. The…
The combination of both an “a” and “y” can result in a long a sound. The vowel team rule states that when two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking. As a result, the first vowel says its name and the second vowel is silent. Our elementary school’s spelling program incorporates AY words….
The combination of the vowels “a” and “i” result in a long a sound. The vowel team rule states that when two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking. As a result, the first vowel says its name and the second vowel is silent. Our elementary school’s spelling program incorporates AI words, that…