Printable Spelling Lists

Printable spelling lists are used in school to help children learn words, to develop fluency when reading and to help develop proficient writing skills. In the homeschool classroom, these printable spelling lists are used to help children with these important language tasks.

A teacher can use printable spelling lists in a variety of ways. Some of the most popular ways to use these lists include the following:

• Quizzes – grade level appropriate quizzes can be used to find out what words have been mastered, and those that need further attention
• Puzzles – having a list of spelling words for a specific grade level can help teachers create puzzle sheets, such as crosswords, jumbles, word finds and fill in the missing letter worksheets.
• Spelling Bee – you don't have to have a classroom full of students to have a spelling bee. Giving children words to spell verbally helps them commit the words to their long-term memory.
• Tests – spelling tests can be created from grade level spelling lists. These tests can be given throughout the year or administered as a final, cumulative test at the end of the school year.

Spelling lists can be created using at-hand resources, such as workbooks available at local retail stores, library reference books and dictionaries. Some public schools print their spelling lists in the local newspaper each month, which can help homeschooling parents keep in step with local institutions work levels.

Children need to be taught spelling words in a specific, progressive way that helps them build their skills as they learn. The following is the basic way young children learn words in the English language:

1. Children are taught vowel-consonant-vowel words first. Examples are MOM, DAD, CAT and DOG.
2. Word families are taught second. These are also vowel-consonant-vowel words, such as HAT, MAT and SAT or HOP and POP.
3. Word families are then introduced. These words blend two sounds, such as TH with R, resulting in the word THREE or F with R, resulting in FROG.
4. Dolch words are taught, starting in first grade. These 220 words include the most common words in the English language including HIM, HER and WINDOW.
5. Compound words are then taught. These are words that combine two words, such as GRANDMOTHER, SAILBOAT or BACKGROUND.
6. Phonics help children "decode" the English language. At the end of first grade or beginning in second grade, children are taught short-vowel and long-vowel words as well as consonant blended and r-controlled words.

Children are then given longer, more challenging words at each successive grade level. This progressive approach helps to reinforce basic principles while learning new words. Using word mapping in grades one to six can be instrumental in helping children learn new words.

The following is a step-by-step approach that is often referred to as "word mapping." It can be used to help teach children new spelling words in your classroom:

1. Say the word out loud. Speak the individual syllables if there is more than one.
2. Exaggerate the syllables. For multi-syllabic words, stretch or exaggerate each syllable.
3. Split the phonemes. Use slash marks to split up the phonemes in each word.
4. Count the phonemes.
5. Write the phonemes. Write out each phoneme individually.
6. Write the meaning of the word.
7. Use the word correctly in a sentence.

After a child has learned a new word it can be added to a list of mastered words, which is sometimes referred to as a "word wall." This word wall can be written on a chalkboard or even poster board and placed where it can easily be seen in the classroom.

Incorporating printable spelling lists in regular classroom work will help your children increase their English vocabulary during the course of the year. Using these lists to create worksheets, tests and word walls will help students commit new words to their long-term memory.

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