Spelling list for kindergarten?

[mich311e]

Does/did your kindergartner have a spelling list?

My son does not.

Two nearby charter schools publish spelling lists on their website for kindergartners. Most of the words my son could spell but the whole class isn't being encouraged to learn or tested.

We've worked on spelling at home before and I just got a copy of the Natural Speller so we'll be using that very soon.

Just looking for feedback. We have parent/teacher conferences next week and I was going to ask about spelling. :)

~Michelle

[Sara R]

I think that you shouldn't focus on spelling until reading is established. In Kindergarten, most kids are just barely beginning to learn to read. Therefore I think the public school has the right approach here: provide challenge words for children who want it, but otherwise focus on reading and not spelling. Spelling will be easier once reading is automatic.

I think the charter school in this case is overreaching and providing artificial rigor. That happens at my DD's charter school. They have each student do 30 spelling words per week, despite protests from the parents that their children just can't retain that many words each week at that pace. 30 words per week is great for the natural spellers, but the kids who need to work on spelling need a slower pace so they can remember the words long-term.

This reminds me of SWB's recent blog post: Third graders, Saxon math, and elitism (http://www.welltrainedmind.com/reflections-on-education/third-graders-saxon-math-and-elitism/).

[dmmetler]

Is it really "spelling" lists, or are they Dolch or Fry sight word lists? A lot of times kids learn to read and to spell these in K, but it's not a spelling list in the sense that there's a formal, weekly test so much as that, when they write them, they are expected to spell them correctly, either by memory,or by using a word wall or printed list as a reference. HeidiSongs has several CDs that are simply little songs to teach the spelling of Dolch words.

[Caroline]

I have had three children go through kindergarten, two in public school adn one currently in private school. We have never had spelling lists in kindergarten. As it is, I think there is too much seat time in kindergarten in many classes. I would hate for spelling to be added to it.

[mich311e]

I think the charter school in this case is overreaching and providing artificial rigor. That happens at my DD's charter school. They have each student do 30 spelling words per week, despite protests from the parents that their children just can't retain that many words each week at that pace. 30 words per week is great for the natural spellers, but the kids who need to work on spelling need a slower pace so they can remember the words long-term.

This reminds me of SWB's recent blog post: Third graders, Saxon math, and elitism (http://www.welltrainedmind.com/reflections-on-education/third-graders-saxon-math-and-elitism/).

Thank you for that! Your reply helps me a lot.

I should clarify, my son is in a charter, too. But I was looking two other charter schools websites to see what they had listed online. I was surprised there were spelling lists. Then I started worrying my son would be behind if he didn't get spelling list. :blushing:

[mich311e]

Is it really "spelling" lists, or are they Dolch or Fry sight word lists? A lot of times kids learn to read and to spell these in K, but it's not a spelling list in the sense that there's a formal, weekly test so much as that, when they write them, they are expected to spell them correctly, either by memory,or by using a word wall or printed list as a reference. HeidiSongs has several CDs that are simply little songs to teach the spelling of Dolch words.

Surprisingly, it's an actual list for one of the schools. I read the other one wrong. I just checked the other one listed sight words, so that was my mistake.

Here is an example of the spelling words for kindergarten:

First week of March:
1. for
2. ran
3. run
4. was
5. that
6. his
7. led
8. lay
9. apple
10. ate
11. author
12. bread
13. brown
14. dog
15. eats

Second week of March:
1. fast
2. food
3. jump
4. sleep
5. wash
6. yellow
7. nine
8. face
9. miss
10. ride
11. rides
12. tree
13. sick
14. got
15. north

I was shocked and thought some of the words were advanced for spelling in kindergarten. :001_rolleyes:

My son's kindergarten class does the "word wall words" or sight words throughout the year but he doesn't get a spelling test, just expected to read them.

[mich311e]

I have had three children go through kindergarten, two in public school adn one currently in private school. We have never had spelling lists in kindergarten. As it is, I think there is too much seat time in kindergarten in many classes. I would hate for spelling to be added to it.

I agree. I was really worried about my son falling behind. The charter school system with the spelling list has a junior high & high school that I'm interested in sending my son to eventually. But the elementary school isn't my first choice for a few reasons (mostly schedule, location, etc). I was so surprised to see kindergarteners expected to spell such words already.

[Caroline]

I agree. I was really worried about my son falling behind. The charter school system with the spelling list has a junior high & high school that I'm interested in sending my son to eventually. But the elementary school isn't my first choice for a few reasons (mostly schedule, location, etc). I was so surprised to see kindergarteners expected to spell such words already.

Not spelling in kindergarten won't put him behind. I promise. I understand about looking forward to middle and high school programs. We work to make sure our kids have the opportunity to go to the magnet schools in our area if they want to. Good luck.

[woxcruse]

Kindergarten spelling support by parents for the weekly spelling effort of an assigned weekly list of spelling words should start as a weekly usage as early as kindergarten. Home spelling effort preparation, often with lists of spelling words for several subjects should continue through region school. Children should practice their list of spelling words the period before the spelling test.