Words Their Way

Parent Guides Teaching Upstairs

Sort #30 Your child is studying words with the unaccented final syllable le, -el, -il, and -

al. What makes these words hard to spell is that they all have the same sound in the

final unaccented syllable. The oddballs are fragile and special. Cut out the words and key word categories attached. Place the key word categories at the top of the columns. Ask your child to sort the words into categories. Ask Why did you sort them the

way you did? Have your child read the words aloud. If your child does not know the meanings of

certain words, please discuss the words. Have your child mix-up the cards and sort them again as quickly as possible. Place these materials in a plastic bag and put them in a safe place. These will be

needed for all spelling assignments this week. Spelling Word Work Through The Week (One should be done each night) SORT the words into the same categories you did in school and record them in a

notebook or piece of paper. Do a BLIND SORT with your child.

o First, create headings for the sort on a piece of paper. o Then, mix-up the words. Say the word without showing the card to your

child. o Have your child choose the right category by writing the words in the correct

column. o Ask your child What characteristic do the two words share?

--Both words end in le as in cattle. --Both words end in el as in model. --Both words end in il as in pencil. --Both words end in al as in final. --The oddball words are fragile and special.

WORD HUNT using words or pictures found around the house record words that have the same pattern as your word sort for the week in your notebook or on a piece of paper. (These words may be part of your spelling test).

REVIEW THE WORDS with your child so they are ready for the test. The test will contain sort words and new words that follow the spelling patterns studied all week.