Sir Spell A-Lot: A Unique Procedure Emphasizing Spelling Accountability and Written Expression

This book (ISBN-0944662099) is the teacher's edition for the Sir Spell-a-Lot Series for grade 5. It contains the blackline masters as well as a thorough description of the program and a sequence of weekly instruction. Each volume of the Sir Spell-A-Lot Series contains spelling lists composed of both high frequency words and words which reflect the spelling principles addressed in each lesson. As students work through the program, they are held accountable on a cumulative basis for all the high frequency words they have reviewed. These words are presented in order according to how often they appear in English writing. The Grade 5 book covers words 550-691 & is the final book in the program. The sequence of weekly instruction is made up of six steps: (1) Dictation Routine (pretest) (2) Self-Correcting Dictation Routine (3) Diagnosis Step (4) Independent Word Study (5) Student Exercises (6) Post Test. The Dictation Routine sharpens the listening skills of the student & reinforces word-by-word proofreading. The Self-Correcting Dictation Routine involves the student in the spelling evaluation by using an active, kinesthetic approach. The student focuses on the specific error in each misspelled word. In the Diagnosis Step, the student analyzes the nature of the misspellings made in the pretest, thus focusing on the cause of the error. The Independent Word Study step offers a specific process for correcting misspellings. It also provides the student with a "measuring stick" to gauge when mastery is achieved, and it employs contrasting colors to reinforce the visual component of proofreading. The Student Exercises are designed to have students practice their spelling words in 29 different ways. Each activity serves as a learning tool without the need for writing the words repeatedly. Post Tests consist of two tests: (1) a specific dictation test for the words in each units and (2) a random sample of student writing to check cumulative mastery of high frequency words.