Name ________________________________________

Dear Parents,

2nd Grade

September 2012

I know you are anxiously awaiting the unveiling of our new spelling program. I created this chart to explain the different levels of a second grade student in regard to spelling. This can also explain why your child may or may not be struggling in reading. The stage that your child is working in is marked below. Each group will have a different spelling list each week.

Stage 1

Letter Name ABC Beginning, Final, and Short Vowel Sorts

There is confusion in how vowels are heard. The word bed may be spelled bed, bad, or bid. The letters b and d will often be reversed and some letter sounds are still not mastered. Stage 2

Letter Name ABC Early Within Word Patterns

Students rely on the sounds of words to spell without regard to how they look in the book. The word kick might be spelled kic, cik, cic, kik. Students will learn how word endings and rhyming words build spelling knowledge. Stage 3

Middle Within Word Patterns Common Long Vowels

There is confusion in how vowel diagraphs are used. The word seat may be spelled seet, sete, seit. The word rope could be spelled rop or roap. Stage 4

Syllables/Affixes Inflectional Endings/Syllable Junctures

Students may spell words almost correct but may forget a letter here and there (hopping might be hoping) while harder words like construction may be spelled like cunstruckshun.