Spellings

What are Spellings?

Spelling is the ability to arrange letters in the correct order to form words. It is like a recipe for a word; if you miss an ingredient (a letter) or put it in the wrong spot, the word doesn't taste right! In Grade 1, we use phonics (sounds) to help us build words.

How to Spell Words When you want to write a word, you can follow these three steps:

1. Say it Slowly: Stretch the word out like a rubber band so you can hear every sound.
2. Segmenting: Break the word into parts (Beginning, Middle, End).
3. Match the Letter: Write down the letter that makes each sound you hear.

Spelling Patterns to Remember English has special "rules" that help us spell many words correctly:

1. Short Vowel Sounds These are the basic sounds for .

• C-V-C Words: These are words like C-A-T, P-I-G, and S-U-N.

2. The Silent "Magic E" When an e is at the end of a word, it is usually silent, but it makes the first vowel say its own name (Long Vowel).

• Hop + e = Hope
• Can + e = Cane

3. Digraphs (Two Letters, One Sound) Sometimes two letters hold hands to make a brand-new sound.

• SH (quiet sound) — Shop
• CH (train sound) — Chip
• TH (tongue sound) — This
• CK (end sound) — Duck

Sight Words (Heart Words) Some words are "rule-breakers." You cannot sound them out easily, so you have to learn them "by heart."

• Examples: the, said, was, are, of, you.

Top Spelling Tips

• Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check: Look at a word, say it, cover it up, try to write it, and then check if you got it right!
• Rhyming Power: If you can spell cat, you can spell bat, hat, and mat!
• Read Often: The more you see a word in a book, the more your brain remembers how it looks.

Why is Spelling Important?

• To be Understood: It helps your teacher and friends read your stories easily.
• To be a Strong Reader: Learning to spell words helps you recognize them faster when you are reading.