Spelling/Phonics

Spelling and phonics are important components in our language arts program. We have been influenced greatly by the work of Dr. Richard Gentry as we think about spelling, young spellers, and the developmental stages through which children progress on their way to become fluent spellers. We have also incorporated much of Fountas and Pinnell's Phonics Lessons into our spelling program.

Phonics lessons that focus upon a specific spelling pattern are taught on a daily basis. Children work with the various spelling patterns through a variety of activities, many of which are sorting activities. In addition to focusing on particular spelling patterns throughout the year, children learn to spell high frequency words. (Several of our high frequency word lists may be found below.) These are the words that occur repeatedly in a child's reading and writing.

HIGH FREQUENCY WORD LISTS

25 HIGH FREQUENCY WORDS

a

am

an

and 

at

can

come

do

go 

he 

I 

in 

is 

it 

like

me

my 

no

see

so 

the

to

up

we

(child's name)

50 HIGH FREQUENCY WORDS

a 

all

an

and

are

at

be

but

came

for

from

go 

got

had

have

he

her

him

his

I 

if

in

is

it

me

my

of 

on

one

out

said

saw

she

so

that

the

their

then

there

they

this

to

up

was

we

went

were

with

you

your

100 HIGH FREQUENCY WORDS
a
after
all
am
an
and
are
as
at
away
back
be
because
been
before
big
but
by
came
can
come
could
day
did
do
don't
for
from
get
go
going
had
has
have
he
her
here
him
his
how
I
I'm
if
in
into
is
it
just
like
little
look
make
man
me
mother
my
no
not
now
of
on
one
or
our
out
over
play
put
said
saw
see
she
so
than
that
the
their
them
then
there
they
this
to
too
two
up
us
very
was
we
went
were
what
when
where
who
will
with
you
your