Spelling Online

Title: Spelling Online


Author: Tandy Dawson.
My mentor teacher uses this currently in her classroom.



Grade level: Grade 3

Timeframe: Test is every Thursday and lasts anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes.

Lesson Description: Students take their weekly spelling test online at spellingcity.com and can also access the site at home to study for their test and complete one weekly assignment.

Indiana Curricular Standards: Language Arts:
Standard 3.1 Reading: word recognition, fluency, and vocabulary development.
Standard 3.7 Listening and Speaking: Skills, Strategies and Applications.
Science Standard 3.2 Scientific Thinking
Math Standard 3.6 Problem Solving

ISTE Standards: Technology Standards:
Standard 4 Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
Standard 6 Technology Operations and Concepts.

Assessments: Students have the choice of completing any of the activities on the website with their spelling words. One such activity is a word search. The student then prints the completed activity and brings it back to class.
On Thursday the student will access the website from school and complete their spelling test. The student has the choice of hearing the word by itself and in a sentence. The student then prints out their completed, graded test and turns it in to the teacher for their grade.

Prior Knowledge: Curricular Knowledge or Skills: Students will draw on their knowledge of phonics. They will utilize single consonant sounds as well as consonant blends in order to spell the words correctly. They will also draw on their knowledge of spelling rules such as, i before e.
Technology Knowledge: Students will draw upon their knowledge on using a computer. They will know how to turn on the computer, access the correct website, and print the required pages. They must follow multi-step directions.


Technology: Internet Resources: (please list URLs) www.spellingcity.com

Hardware: Students will need access to a computer at home to complete homework or make prior arrangements with the teacher. The students will need access to a printer unless prior arrangements have been made.

Software: The computer needs to have an operating system; either Windows or Mac will work.

Procedure: The students are given a new spelling list every Friday, or the last day of the week that the students are in school. This could be on a Wednesday if the students have fall break that week. They will have the weekend and three nights of the next week to complete at least one activity on the website. If students do not have access to a computer at home and are unable to go to the library, the teacher can print out an activity for the student to complete. The student can then take that activity home, complete it and then bring it back to school.
On Thursday the students will choose to take the spelling test during one of their writing time activities. This process is self-paced. The students are not rushed by other students being able to take their test faster because there are several activities going on at once.

Differentiated Instruction

ESL: Each test is individualized based on the student’s current level of performance. If the student is assessed as needing help on sight words, then that is the list they will receive. The directions to access the website are also printed in other languages on how to access the website. The words themselves are in English since they are spelling words.

Challenge/Extend: The spelling list is based on needs that were assessed during the beginning of the year and progress in difficulty as each level is mastered. The students that are on grade 5 words start with grade 5 spelling lists and keep going to increase their ability.

Special Needs: The spelling list is based on needs assessed during the beginning of the year and progress in difficulty as each level is mastered. The students that are on grade 1 words start with grade 1 spelling lists and keep going to increase their ability. Students that have difficulty with a standard keyboard will have access to a large key keyboard.