Grammar, Word Study and Editing

Dear Families,

I hope this post finds you well.  In school, we’ve been talking about what words every fourth grader should absolutely know how to spell right now (list of the 300 most frequently used words also available in the links section.), and about what grammatical rules every fourth grader should absolutely follow all the time.  We’ve also been working to establish editing routines.

GRAMMAR

As we begin our study of spelling and grammar, the class has agreed that all students’ writing should always have capital letters at the beginning of sentences and for proper nouns, correct punctuation at the end of sentences, and that sentences should not be missing any words or have any unintentionally repeated words.  We will not study these things in school—the expectation is that everyone should be doing them all the time starting now.  We will add things to the list as our study of grammar progresses.

WORD STUDY

During the year, students will investigate different spelling patterns as a class, with partners and independently. The goal for fourth grade word study is for all students to become familiar with basic spelling patterns and for all students to become stronger spellers.  Most investigations start with a sort, where students look across several words that have something in common and try to figure out a generalization (We say “generalization” because there are too many exceptions to call the spelling patterns “rules.”).  For example, students might look at the words puppy/puppies, sky/skies, gallery/galleries and candy/candies and conclude that when a word ends with y and y is a vowel, you drop the y and add –ies to make the word plural.  In this example, the week’s class work would focus on spelling patterns related to making words plural.

Each unit of word study also includes weekly homework aimed at familiarizing students with the pattern being investigated that week. Students will be responsible for one independent word sort, as well as a choice of any two additional games or activities, which will be listed in students’ word study notebooks.  We will do the weekly homework together in school the first two weeks so students are clear on what’s expected.  Watch backpacks for the first official word study homework in the middle of November.

You’ll find a list of the 300 most frequently used words here (or view them in the links section).  Next week for homework, I’ll ask students to have an adult quiz them on the 300 words over the course of the week (either spelling them aloud or writing them down is fine).  On Friday, students should come to school with a list of the words they didn’t know automatically.  The following week’s homework will be to practice spelling those words.

EDITING ROUTINES

Once we have studied a particular topic in spelling or grammar, students will be expected to edit their work to make sure they haven’t made any errors that relate to the things we’ve studied.  Students should spend the last few minutes of writing, whether it’s at home or in school, editing their work.  This week, students are checking their work for the aforementioned capital letters, punctuation and missing/repeated words.  Next week, we’ll add the 300 words on the instant sight word list to the things students are editing for, and each week after that we’ll add the week’s word study topic to the list of things students are looking for while they edit.

When a student is trying to spell a word, whether it’s during writing or editing, they should follow the process described in “Stretch Out Those Sounds!” (also in the links section).

While I do want all of us to hold students accountable for grammar and spelling, it is inevitable that they will make mistakes (Just like it’s inevitable that I’ll send things home or post things here that have errors.).  Please be gentle when pointing them out!

Best,

Lauren