English

TERM THREE  Spelling



Dear Parents and carers of boys doing year 6 English,

Welcome to your son’s first term of English at Sacred Heart College Middle School. In year 6 we believe that students best learn spelling, grammar and punctuation by using and exploring words and language conventions that they encounter in their speaking, listening, writing and reading, Consequently, our boys will be completing a weekly language contract that builds on their knowledge, uses some words currently being studied, and gives a variety of activities that will extend his learning. By now each student would have completed the South Australian Spelling Test (SAST) which indicates their relative spelling ages. Student performance in the SAST will assist their English teacher to provide activities most suiting their spelling and language ability. Each week the boys will be given a list of ten words of a common spelling pattern. They will be given another ten words from a topic currently being studied in year 6. For example, the topic for the first week is “Camp”. Some boys will study only the first ten words. The core group will study all twenty. The spellers with outstanding results in the SAST will study another ten of their choice that will extend and challenge their spelling. These words will be learned over the week and tested on Friday. The aim is for all learners, no matter their spelling standard, to achieve personal excellence (ie no errors). There will be six research questions matching the topic. The core group will choose two of these each week and the other groups, in negotiation with their teacher, will choose the number of activities best suiting their learning. Finally, there will be a list of grammar, spelling and punctuation activities of which each student will select a number depending on their spelling ability. The core activities are presented to the whole class and must be completed by all. Each student has further activities, many of which are creative or analytical tasks designed to get your son thinking about words. The contract must be completed by Thursday. It is our aim that most, if not all, activities will be at least started at school. Those boys developing expertise in spelling would be greatly assisted by parents helping them learn their words each week. Each week we will attach a contract for the week. We would much appreciate your feedback. This may include: your opinion, your son’s opinion; how much homework time was spent; your son’s favourite activity. Please send your son’s English teacher an email or write a note in your son’s diary. Regards, Year 6 English teachers

Spelling Contracts



**On this page, you will find links to great sites and resources to help with your English studies.**

Student Editing Checklists - these checklists are designed to assist you when writing a piece of work. You should go through these checklists before you hand in your work.



= WRITING = = =
 * Exposition Booklet**
 * Exposition Rubric**