Instructions for the Six S Spelling Secret Packet
The “Six S Spelling Secret Packet” gives your students four helpful ways to practice their spelling words--three traditional methods and one “secret” method! These methods work for students of all ages, but are especially effective for second through eighth grade students who are able to self monitor their progress (which this packet will help them learn to do even more!).
Here are some suggestions for use:
(1) The first page of the packet is a traditional “pin-point your challenging words and syllabicate and copy.” This works especially wellwith spelling programs in which the syllabication is given for the student’s spelling words--though it is also effective for extremelyphonetic learners who can syllabicate on their own. If the student does not desire to syllabicate, the lines are provided to simply copychallenging words multiple times for repetition. This step also gives the student the option of listing words under the coordinatingspelling commonalities/word families in Language Lady's Spelling Notebook. This is optional, of course, but for those desiring to createyour own SN, the preview of the SN (available at this site) gives the Table of Contents that may be used to create a phonetically-based,systematic spelling notebook for recording mis-spelled words.
(2) The next two pages of this packet contain two pages of graph paper with two different sizes of boxes in the graph. This allowsyounger learners who write larger to use the larger boxed paper and older learners with smaller penmanship to use the smaller boxedpaper. Writing each word, one letter per box, helps many students visualize their spelling words, one letter and one shape at a time.
(3) Lastly, the “secret" part. The instructions for the Six S Spelling Secret Sheet are given on the actual sheet for each student. Here aresome other keys to using this document:
(a) Stress to the students that they only need to use The Six S Spelling Secret Sheet for words that they mis-spell in a pre-test. Thisalone is sometimes enough encouragement for a student to practice prior to the pre-test. (They will not have to work on any wordsthat they “passed" in the pre-test.)
(b) Work through the columns of the sheet with your students one column at a time for one word, completing each step that is listedfor each column. You will want to do this several times in order for them to be able to do it completely independently as they studyfor their spelling test.
(c) Emphasize honesty in the cover, write, etc.. portions of the sheet. While it isn't a test per se, looking up the spelling (not coveringor folding the page over) will not help the student learn how to spell the word (obviously). Encourage them to complete the sheet asit is given, reminding them that this repetition and multi-sensory approach will help them become excellent spellers.
(d) For classroom use, I recommend that you have a pocket or stacking tray or other area in which students can pick up copies ofThe Six S Spelling Secret Sheet at any time (even if you pass out a sheet to each student weekly).
e) Consider passing out the sheet each week when you give new spelling words--and walk through one word (a challenging onefrom their list) with the students at that time. They will be more likely to use the sheets on their own if they are emphasized and evenre-taught each week.
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The Six S Spelling Secret Packet1
Spelling Words Practice SheetFollow these tips for extra spelling practice:
1. Syllabicate the spelling words on the numbered lines as shown in the example.2. Copy each spelling word on a numbered line. Beneath each word write other words
that are spelled the same way.3. Optional: Copy the spelling words in the correct locations of your Spelling
Notebook.Examples:1. fi/nal/ly: fi/nal/ly 2. ground: ground
fi/nal/ly bound fi/nal/ly found
1. ________________________________ 2. ____________________________________
________________________________ ____________________________________
________________________________ ____________________________________
3. ________________________________ 4. ____________________________________
________________________________ ____________________________________
________________________________ ____________________________________
5. ________________________________ 6. ____________________________________
______________________________ ____________________________________
________________________________ ____________________________________
7. ________________________________ 8. ____________________________________
________________________________ ____________________________________
________________________________ ____________________________________
9. ________________________________ 10. ____________________________________
________________________________ __________________________________
________________________________ ____________________________________
2 The Six S Spelling Secret Packet
The Six S Spelling Secret PacketHow To’s:1. Write the problem words on
the numbered lines as shownin example one. Have yourstudent copy these words onthe lines provided in the samemanner you wrote the firstone(s). By copying and syl-labicating each word, it willhelp cement the spelling inhis mind.
2. Copy each problem word ona numbered line. Beneatheach word, write other wordsthat are spelled the sameway. Leave enough space forhim to copy each word andrelated word beside the onesyou wrote. (See exampletwo.)
3. Optional: Locate the rulein his Spelling Notebookthat applies to the portion ofthe word he is misspelling,and have him copy theword in the correct columnof the Spelling Notebook.
4. Choose four to six similarwords (same endings, sameword families, etc.) that yourstudent misspelled. Onlyhave him study these wordsthis week. Choose anotherrule the next week andrepeat this process. Thisway, each week he is work-ing with words that are verysimilar to each other (espe-cially for upper level studentswhere similar words aretaught together).
5. Write your student’s mis-spelled words on graph paper,with each letter in a separatesquare. Each day have himcopy those words, also writ-ing one letter per square.
The Six S Spelling Secret Packet 3
4 The Six S Spelling Secret Packet
The Six S Spelling Secret Packet 5
1.SE
E4.
SPEL
L5.
SPOT
6.ST
OP or STA
RT
3.SE
PARAT
E2.
SAY
6.To
Stop/Start:
1.If you spelled that
challenging word cor-
rectly, you may
STOP working on
that word and move
on to your next chal-
lenging word.
2.If you spelled that
word wrong, you
should START the
Six “S” Spelling
Secret over again
for that word.
5.To
Spo
t:1.Uncover the word
in the 1. SEE col-
umn.
2.Check your
spelling right on
the spot. (Do not
go on to the next
word until you
have “spot
checked” this
word.)
4.To
Spe
ll:1.With the word you are prac-
ticing still separated from
you, write that word on the
correlating line in the 4.
SPELL column.
2.If you get stuck, try to
picture the word once
more in your m
ind, and
try again to write it.
3.To
Sep
arate:
1.Fold the 1. SEE
column over or
cover the word you
are working on
with a sticky note--
separate yourself
from the word.
2.Try to picture the
word in your m
ind.
3.Close your eyes to
picture the word, if
needed.
2.To
Say:
1.Say the word you
wrote in column one
aloud.
2.Try to spell the word
aloud without look-
ing in the 1. SEE
column.
3.If you get stuck, look
at the word in the 1.
SEE column.
4.Note: If spelling a
word aloud confu-
ses you further, skip
this step.
1.To
See:
1.Copy the word you need to
practice on the first empty line
of this column.
2.Look at this first word
carefully.
3.Pay attention to the
parts of the word that follow
spelling rules you already
know.
4.Look closely at the shape of
the word.
5.See if there are parts
of the word you know
easily.
Six “S
” Sp
ellin
g Se
cret She
et
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Donna Reish, mother of seven grown children and thirty-two year homeschool veteran, is a prolific curriculum writer, blogger, and teacher from Indiana. She graduated from Ball State University with a degree in Elementary Education and did master's work in Reading Specialist following that.
Donna began writing curriculum for a publisher out of Chicago specifically for homeschoolers twenty years ago. Following the completion of those thirty books over ten years, she and her husband started a small press publishing company writing materials for homeschools and Christian schools.
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Six S Spelling Secret Student Packet
The Spelling Notebook
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