Spelling Objectives for Third Grade
Language arts is an important subject in school. It teaches students how to read, write and how to communicate with the world around them. Teaching phonics with spelling allows students to decode words and break them down into easily understandable parts. By third grade, students should be able to recognize every letter in the alphabet, and tell what sound the letter makes, and recognize some of the basic phonics rules.
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Recognize the Rules
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By third grade, students should recognize the basic phonics rules between one-vowel and two-vowel words. For example, when there is one vowel in a word, the vowel normally says its short sound, in the word "hat", the vowel "A" says the short "a in apple" sound. In the two-vowel word "sale," the first vowel says its "name"---or long sound---and the second vowel is silent.
New words should not frighten students; they should be able to look at the words and recognize different phonics sounds that help them decode the word. For example, if a third grader encountered the word "freshly," he would be able to recognize the special sounds, in the letters "fr" and "sh," that the word ends in a suffix, and that there is only one vowel left in the word, so it would probably say its short sound.
Review the basic phonics rules frequently to help students who are struggling in spelling, or students who may be new to the concept.
Recognize "Sight" Words
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As students learn to read better, they will not stop to decode words with phonics, they will memorize the words. Words that do not follow the basic rules of phonics are "sight" words. For example, the word "love" does not follow the two-vowel rule, since the letter "o" makes the short "u" sound instead of the regular short "o" sound. "Sight" words work well as spelling words, since it allows the students to practice them more.
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Understand Words
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When possible, group spelling words together in easy-to-remember patterns, such as words that start or end the same, or words that rhyme. Help expand your third grader's writing and comprehension skills by grouping antonyms and synonyms together in spelling lists. Ensure that students understand the definition of the words, and integrate them into your lesson plan for the week. Practical application of the words helps students to better understand the meaning, and makes them more comfortable with the words in everyday life.
Memorization Method
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Employ the "say-spell-say" method when teaching children new spelling words. This particularly helps children who learn aurally, since they are saying the word aloud. For example, for the spelling word "smoke," both teacher and class would say "smoke, S-M-O-K-E, smoke."
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References
- Photo Credit child reading image by Photoeyes from Fotolia.com
