Instructions for the Six S Spelling Secret Packet

The “Six S Spelling Secret Packet” gives your students four helpful ways to practice their spelling words--three traditional methods and one “secret” method! These methods work for students of all ages, but are especially effective for second through eighth grade students who are able to self monitor their progress (which this packet will help them learn to do even more!).

Here are some suggestions for use:

(1) The first page of the packet is a traditional “pin-point your challenging words and syllabicate and copy.” This works especially wellwith spelling programs in which the syllabication is given for the student’s spelling words--though it is also effective for extremelyphonetic learners who can syllabicate on their own. If the student does not desire to syllabicate, the lines are provided to simply copychallenging words multiple times for repetition. This step also gives the student the option of listing words under the coordinatingspelling commonalities/word families in Language Lady's Spelling Notebook. This is optional, of course, but for those desiring to createyour own SN, the preview of the SN (available at this site) gives the Table of Contents that may be used to create a phonetically-based,systematic spelling notebook for recording mis-spelled words.

(2) The next two pages of this packet contain two pages of graph paper with two different sizes of boxes in the graph. This allowsyounger learners who write larger to use the larger boxed paper and older learners with smaller penmanship to use the smaller boxedpaper. Writing each word, one letter per box, helps many students visualize their spelling words, one letter and one shape at a time.

(3) Lastly, the “secret" part. The instructions for the Six S Spelling Secret Sheet are given on the actual sheet for each student. Here aresome other keys to using this document:

(a) Stress to the students that they only need to use The Six S Spelling Secret Sheet for words that they mis-spell in a pre-test. Thisalone is sometimes enough encouragement for a student to practice prior to the pre-test. (They will not have to work on any wordsthat they “passed" in the pre-test.)

(b) Work through the columns of the sheet with your students one column at a time for one word, completing each step that is listedfor each column. You will want to do this several times in order for them to be able to do it completely independently as they studyfor their spelling test.

(c) Emphasize honesty in the cover, write, etc.. portions of the sheet. While it isn't a test per se, looking up the spelling (not coveringor folding the page over) will not help the student learn how to spell the word (obviously). Encourage them to complete the sheet asit is given, reminding them that this repetition and multi-sensory approach will help them become excellent spellers.

(d) For classroom use, I recommend that you have a pocket or stacking tray or other area in which students can pick up copies ofThe Six S Spelling Secret Sheet at any time (even if you pass out a sheet to each student weekly).

e) Consider passing out the sheet each week when you give new spelling words--and walk through one word (a challenging onefrom their list) with the students at that time. They will be more likely to use the sheets on their own if they are emphasized and evenre-taught each week.

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The Six S Spelling Secret Packet1

Spelling Words Practice SheetFollow these tips for extra spelling practice:

1. Syllabicate the spelling words on the numbered lines as shown in the example.2. Copy each spelling word on a numbered line. Beneath each word write other words

that are spelled the same way.3. Optional: Copy the spelling words in the correct locations of your Spelling

Notebook.Examples:1. fi/nal/ly: fi/nal/ly 2. ground: ground

fi/nal/ly bound fi/nal/ly found

1. ________________________________ 2. ____________________________________

________________________________ ____________________________________

________________________________ ____________________________________

3. ________________________________ 4. ____________________________________

________________________________ ____________________________________

________________________________ ____________________________________

5. ________________________________ 6. ____________________________________

______________________________ ____________________________________

________________________________ ____________________________________

7. ________________________________ 8. ____________________________________

________________________________ ____________________________________

________________________________ ____________________________________

9. ________________________________ 10. ____________________________________

________________________________ __________________________________

________________________________ ____________________________________

2 The Six S Spelling Secret Packet

The Six S Spelling Secret PacketHow To’s:1. Write the problem words on

the numbered lines as shownin example one. Have yourstudent copy these words onthe lines provided in the samemanner you wrote the firstone(s). By copying and syl-labicating each word, it willhelp cement the spelling inhis mind.

2. Copy each problem word ona numbered line. Beneatheach word, write other wordsthat are spelled the sameway. Leave enough space forhim to copy each word andrelated word beside the onesyou wrote. (See exampletwo.)

3. Optional: Locate the rulein his Spelling Notebookthat applies to the portion ofthe word he is misspelling,and have him copy theword in the correct columnof the Spelling Notebook.

4. Choose four to six similarwords (same endings, sameword families, etc.) that yourstudent misspelled. Onlyhave him study these wordsthis week. Choose anotherrule the next week andrepeat this process. Thisway, each week he is work-ing with words that are verysimilar to each other (espe-cially for upper level studentswhere similar words aretaught together).

5. Write your student’s mis-spelled words on graph paper,with each letter in a separatesquare. Each day have himcopy those words, also writ-ing one letter per square.

The Six S Spelling Secret Packet 3

4 The Six S Spelling Secret Packet

The Six S Spelling Secret Packet 5

1.SE

E4.

SPEL

L5.

SPOT

6.ST

OP or STA

RT

3.SE

PARAT

E2.

SAY

6.To

Stop/Start:

1.If you spelled that

challenging word cor-

rectly, you may

STOP working on

that word and move

on to your next chal-

lenging word.

2.If you spelled that

word wrong, you

should START the

Six “S” Spelling

Secret over again

for that word.

5.To

Spo

t:1.Uncover the word

in the 1. SEE col-

umn.

2.Check your

spelling right on

the spot. (Do not

go on to the next

word until you

have “spot

checked” this

word.)

4.To

Spe

ll:1.With the word you are prac-

ticing still separated from

you, write that word on the

correlating line in the 4.

SPELL column.

2.If you get stuck, try to

picture the word once

more in your m

ind, and

try again to write it.

3.To

Sep

arate:

1.Fold the 1. SEE

column over or

cover the word you

are working on

with a sticky note--

separate yourself

from the word.

2.Try to picture the

word in your m

ind.

3.Close your eyes to

picture the word, if

needed.

2.To

Say:

1.Say the word you

wrote in column one

aloud.

2.Try to spell the word

aloud without look-

ing in the 1. SEE

column.

3.If you get stuck, look

at the word in the 1.

SEE column.

4.Note: If spelling a

word aloud confu-

ses you further, skip

this step.

1.To

See:

1.Copy the word you need to

practice on the first empty line

of this column.

2.Look at this first word

carefully.

3.Pay attention to the

parts of the word that follow

spelling rules you already

know.

4.Look closely at the shape of

the word.

5.See if there are parts

of the word you know

easily.

Six “S

” Sp

ellin

g Se

cret She

et

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Donna Reish, mother of seven grown children and thirty-two year homeschool veteran, is a prolific curriculum writer, blogger, and teacher from Indiana. She graduated from Ball State University with a degree in Elementary Education and did master's work in Reading Specialist following that.

Donna began writing curriculum for a publisher out of Chicago specifically for homeschoolers twenty years ago. Following the completion of those thirty books over ten years, she and her husband started a small press publishing company writing materials for homeschools and Christian schools.

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Six S Spelling Secret Student Packet

The Spelling Notebook

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