How to Help a Fourth Grader With Spelling Patterns
Instead of relying on rote memorization, students who learn spelling patterns can become more adept spellers and increase their skills to spell unfamiliar words correctly. Many fourth-grade teachers integrate spelling patterns into their weekly spelling practice. If your fourth grader finds mastery of this method particularly challenging, it may be necessary for you to assist him. Add practice opportunities and encourage him to spend more time with the concepts and your student will likely improve his overall mastery.
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Instructions
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Keep a running list of patterns from school spelling lessons. Spelling lessons build on themselves; it is vital that students retain the previously learned information. Make a list of spelling patterns that your child has studied on the refrigerator. This list will likely include patterns such as -ough, -ei-, -ie, -es and -ph- as these patterns commonly grace fourth-grade spelling lists. Continue to add to the list as your child explores different patterns.
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Brainstorm lists of words that fit a spelling pattern and compose a story containing words from that pattern. For example, if your child is studying words with the -ei- spelling pattern, your list could include receive, weigh and neighbor. Give your child a prompt to get him started on his story, or allow him to make up a story on a topic of his choice.
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Search for spelling patterns in reading. Challenge your student to find words containing the pattern she is currently studying. Give your child a piece of paper and ask her to write down the words she locates along with its page number. Reward her with a sticker for each pattern-containing word she finds.
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Highlight spelling patterns found in newspaper articles. After you finish with the evening paper, clip out an article and give it to your child with a highlighter. Ask him to read through the article and highlight any words he finds that contain the spelling pattern he is currently studying. Place these highlighted articles on your refrigerator to showcase his success.
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References
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