Spelling
Spelling
At St James’ Lanehead, children are taught spelling using the Read Write Inc. Spelling Programme. Learning how to spell is a lifelong skill and at St James’ Lanehead we are committed to ensuring children leave our school confident spellers.
Read Write Inc. Spelling is a robust, fast paced, systematic spelling programme for children in Year 2 – 6. It builds upon the teaching strategies and spelling activities from Read Write Inc. Phonics. The programme supports the aims of the National Curriculum to ensure that children:
- Spell new words correctly and have plenty of practice in spelling them, including exception words and homophones
- Spell words as accurately as possible using their phonics knowledge and other knowledge of spelling, such as morphology (the study of the form of words) and etymology (the study of the origins and development of words)
- Are supporting in understanding and applying the concepts of word structure
- Spell words that they have not yet been taught by using what they have learnt about how spelling works in English.
Spelling is taught daily for pupils in Year 2 to Year 6 who can read with accuracy and recognise the alternative graphemes for sounds. The spelling programme consists of teacher-led activities, paired work and independent activities. All children have an individual spelling log where they can record words they find difficult to spell and use this across the curriculum. Assessment of spelling takes place throughout the spelling programme.
We do not have a whole class weekly spelling test. Each child is expected to learn the words that they have identified and written in their Log Book. In addition to these words, there are ‘common exception words for Year 3 and 4’ and ‘common exception words for Year 5 and 6’ which are listed in the National Curriculum. All children are expected to be able to spell these words.