Spelling Scaffold

As I was going through my photos for yesterday's 5 For Friday Post, I found this picture of spelling tests I had taken right before the break, and I remembered that I had wanted to share something that has really increased my student's performance on their weekly spelling tests.

I use Words Their Way, and we work with the patterns and rules, but for some reason, a large majority of my students were still failing the tests each week.  When a large majority are having a difficult time, I know I have to change something about my instruction.

I asked one of our special ed teachers if she had any suggestions since I have a few of her kiddos.  She suggested shortening the list and using boxes for the tests.  Well, I decided to try it for ALL of my kids.  We now spend three weeks going over a pattern with a test over one row plus two words from a previous test that are a surprise to the students (to ensure that they don't just learn it for the test, but keep it in their memory.  I also print out spelling boxes for the test using this worksheet generator from Soft School.  The only issue I have is that I have to remember to cut of the top before I photocopy because the words are printed at the top.  I left a list like that for a sub once - oops!

Once I started doing this, the test scores became all A's and B's - and my students are actually transferring the spelling skills into their writing!

What do you use for your spelling program?  Any other tips or advice?

PS - Don't forget to enter to win a $25 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card!  If your wish list is anything like mine, you can use all the help you can get in making a dent in it! LOL!

Fictional Narrative Writing - Do Over!

Our district has common assessments that our students take approximately every 6 weeks.  Normally they take them during computers, but because last week Monday was a holiday (our usual computer day) we had to take them the old fashioned pencil and paper way.  I figured it would be an easy thing to plug into my sub plans while I took the GRE.  Tests are often my go to for sub days - keeps the kiddos somewhat quiet for the sub.

Anyway, when I got back the next day, along with a 2 page note from the sub (they had a rough day, I'm not going to lie), was a stack of assessments with written responses that looked like this:

and this:

So, I had two choices, 

1.  I could cry about the sub note

2. I could re-teach them how to write a fictional narrative

I chose the second option.  Because this was completely impromptu and unplanned ignore my messy rushed handwriting!

We talked about the steps for writing when answering a written response.  

1. Read the prompt - What is it asking you?  (The prompt was - "Describe the day you woke up as a fish.") So, we decided this was asking us to write a fictional narrative.  

2. Brainstorm and organize your thoughts.

I asked the students, what do fictional stories have? Story elements!  We created quick graphic organizers listing the text elements: characters, setting, problem, solution, beginning, middle, end, feelings, action, dialogue.  We brainstormed what could go under each.  I sent the students back to work on their own brainstorm.

3. Write.  Once everyone was close to being finished with their brainstorming, I showed them how I might begin my own story.

They went back to work, and here are some of their revisions with some before and after as well.  I was so proud I *ALMOST* forgot about the sub note!

Before

After page 1

                                            After page 2 WoW!

I also have a student who needs a bit more support and normally doesn't take the tests with the class, but I had her draw a picture to help her brainstorm.  Here is her writing sample:

Have you ever done a do-over?