Spelling
Spelling is practiced during the beginning of each English period. Students will review spelling patterns, learn about origins of words, become familiar with parts of words (roots and affixes) and their meanings, and increase their vocabulary as they learn how to use words correctly within sentences according to the context clues. Throughout the school year, there will be a pretest on the first day of every week; this will be followed by practice work during the middle of the week and a posttest on the last day of the week. If a student spells all twenty words from that unit correctly on the pretest, he/she will not have to complete the review work during the week; he/she will not have to take the posttest on the last day of the week either. A 100% score will be entered for each grade to reflect this accomplishment. Our goal will be to complete one spelling unit each week. (However, we will be reviewing the days of the week, months of the year, and eight parts of speech during three-day weeks.) It is a good idea to study the spelling words before the pretest and posttest; try spelling the words orally as well as writing them. (Pay close attention to spelling patterns!) When the schedule permits, we will also have a spelling bee on the last day of the week to prepare students for the next spelling unit. A prize (candy bar/soda) is awarded to the winner of the bee from each period! Woo-hoo!