Spelling

In the first grade that I am currently working with there have been many discussions about spelling between my MT and me. We have discussed wether spelling tests should be given to the students or not. My master teacher does not administer spelling tests and says that there is no evidence that says spelling tests make the students better spellers. Reading the Templeton article brings some light to that statement. The article stresses the importance of the students learning patterns in spelling and therefore once they learn the patterns they will then be able to improve spelling.

I have observed a different first grade class which administers spelling tests every Friday. The only difference about this spelling test is that the students are able to self-select their words. The beginning list is compiled of site words that they should know but most are the words that are hard to decode through letter sound (they are spelled differently then pronounced). Once the students have mastered the words they are allowed to move onto a different list that progressively gets harder. The only problem with this is that I don't see the patterns within words being taught.

I tend to lean on the side that says that spelling tests are important and sometime repetition in practice can stick with the students. I like the idea stated in the article about if you choose to test students that you need to be teaching the patterns found in words. Once the patterns are learned then the meaning of the words can become the focus.

At the beginning of the year I was able to assist my MT in the qualitative spelling inventory of her students. The inventory told us so many interesting facts about where certain students in the class were. Are there a variety of inventory tests? This allowed us to not only see which level they would be in writing but had some connections with their reading level as well.