Spelling Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 SoR-based Programs
Differentiated Spelling Instruction
Differentiated Spelling Instruction Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are assessment-based, grade level spelling programs built upon conventional spelling rules and developmental spelling patterns. Plus, the program includes all the printable and digital resources teachers need to re-teach the previous grade level spelling patterns that your students have not yet mastered through individualized instruction. Developing an efficient weekly spelling plan that differentiates instruction for all of your students is a challenging task for even the best veteran teacher, but help has arrived! There is no better spelling program for your grade level students, GATE students, special ed, ESL/ELD, and below grade level students. Perfect for RtI.
What exactly is digital about this program? In addition to the printable PDF program, the grade-level and remedial spelling worksheets are also provided as fillable PDFs; the Diagnostic Spelling Assessment is an audio file and can be automatically graded in Google Forms; and the assessment results may be uploaded to the Diagnostic Spelling Assessment Mastery Matrix in Google Sheets to individualize instruction with the remedial spelling pattern worksheets. Ideal for in-class and distance (virtual) learning.
PREVIEW THIS BOOK HERE. BUY THE PROGRAM HERE.
“I work with a large ELL population at my school and was not happy with the weekly spelling tests, etc. Through my research in best practices, I know that spelling patterns and word study are so important at this age group. However, I just couldn’t find anything out there that combines the two. We have just adopted RtI at my school and your spelling matrix is a great tool for documentation. The grade level spelling program and remediation are perfect for my students.”
Heidi
How to Teach the Differentiated Spelling Grade-level Program
1. Students take a weekly spelling pattern pretest and self-correct. Students create personal spelling lists from the words missed on their pretest, spelling errors identified in their writing, spelling errors from their previous spelling posttests, and from the supplemental resources provided in the appendix.
2.The teacher explains the weekly spelling pattern.
3. Students complete the spelling pattern word sort and self-correct in class (printable and fillable PDF digital versions).
4. Students study their personal spelling lists.
5. Students take the posttest (once a week or bi-weekly) in pairs, alternating dictations.
Summative: After seven weeks of instruction, students take a summative assessment of the seven previous spelling patterns.
How to Teach the Differentiated Spelling Individualized (Remediation) Program
1. Students take the Diagnostic Spelling Assessment (a comprehensive spelling patterns assessment… not a random sample qualitative spelling inventory), using the audio file included in the program or the Google forms version. The teacher corrects the test (or Google forms does it for you) and records spelling pattern deficits on the progress monitoring matrix (printable and Google sheets versions).
2. Students complete targeted worksheets (printable and fillable PDF digital versions) corresponding to the spelling patterns they missed on the diagnostic assessment. Each worksheet explains the spelling pattern, provides examples, includes a spelling sort, has a word jumble, rhyme, and/or book search, and includes a short formative assessment to determine whether or not the student has mastered the spelling pattern. Students self-correct the worksheet to learn from their mistakes and mini-conference with the teacher, who corrects the formative assessment to determine mastery. If mastered, the teacher marks as such on the progress monitoring matrix.
Now that’s effective differentiated instruction! Your students can catch up, while they keep up with grade level spelling instruction.
The program is easy to teach. We even provide two quick YouTube training videos to ensure your success!
Plus, get these helpful spelling resources:
- How to Study Spelling Words
- Spelling Proofreading Strategies for Stories and Essays
- Outlaw Words
- The 450 Most Frequently Used Words
- The 100 Most Often Misspelled Words
- The 70 Most Commonly Confused Words
- Eight Great Spelling Rules, Memory Songs, and Raps (with Mp3 links)
- Spelling Review Games
Why Other Spelling Programs are Ineffective and Why Differentiated Spelling Instruction (DSI) Makes Sense
- Others use “themed” spelling word lists, grouping words by such themes as animals, months, holidays, or colors.
- DSI uses developmental spelling patterns for its word lists, providing sequential, research-based orthographic instruction.
- Others use practice worksheets that focus on rote memorization, such as word searches, fill-in the-blanks, or crossword puzzles.
- DSI provides spelling sorts/word parts worksheets to help students practice recognition and application of the spelling patterns.
- Others de-emphasize structural analysis.
- DSI emphasizes word study: syllables, accents, morphemes, inflections, spelling rules, pronunciation, and derivational influences.
- Others do not integrate vocabulary instruction.
- DSI integrates homonyms, common Greek and Latin prefixes, roots, and suffixes, and other linguistic influences.
- Others minimize the reading-spelling connection.
- DSI reinforces the decoding-encoding connection with an instructional scope and sequence aligned with systematic explicit phonics instruction. The DSI program includes five years of seamless spelling instruction (Grades 4 through 8)—perfect for grade-level classes, combination classes, and flexible homeschool instruction.
- Others ignore spelling irregularities.
- DSI includes “Exceptions” throughout the program, providing problem-solving strategies that build student (and teacher) confidence in the English orthographic spelling system.
- Others use spelling tests solely as summative assessments.
- DSI uses spelling tests as diagnostic and formative instruments to help teachers differentiate instruction. Recording matrices enable teachers to keep track of mastered and un-mastered spelling patterns for each student—simple record-keeping and minimal paperwork.
- Others provide one-size-fits-all instruction.
- DSI provides the resources for true differentiated instruction from remedial to grade-level to accelerated spellers.
- Others use visual-only spelling strategies.
- DSI uses multi-sensory instructional practice, including songs, raps, games and phonological awareness activities—perfect for students with auditory processing deficits and a “must” for effective Response to Intervention (RtI) instruction.
- Others have no writing-spelling connection.
- DSI requires students to develop weekly Personal Spelling Lists that include commonly misspelled words from their own writing.
- Others provide no review activities for unit spelling tests.
- DSI provides ample review activities, including Word Jumbles for each sound-spelling pattern, web-based songs and raps, and entertaining games.
- Others take either inordinate teacher preparation or require too much class time.
- DSI is “teacher-friendly” and requires only minimal prep time. And the flexible DSI resources will not eat up excessive instructional minutes.
- Others are overly expensive and require consumable workbooks.
- DSI requires only one worksheet each lesson, per student—truly economical.
Check out the comprehensive CCSS Grades 4−8 Spelling Scope and Sequence to see how these programs will help you coordinate seamless, Standards-based spelling instruction at your school.