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Spelling Lists

Each week more and more spelling lists will be added. We have some for grade one and all of grade seven complete. Keep checking back for more!

Spelling Lessons

Some words just have to be learned, they don’t seem to follow the rules. However, there are plenty of rules to learn that will help you spell most words. We start off with a look at short vowels and some of the rules you can learn if you know them.Plurals can be tricky. Just how do you know if it needs an s, an es, or if it changes? Spelling rules usually dictate a language, more so the English language. Actually, many English words are not pronounced the way they are spelt, making it very tough to remember the spellings. Even the native speakers find it difficult spelling words correctly because of this discrepancy in pronunciation and spelling. Many people try to memorize the spellings. Evolvement of spelling rules has made the process of memorizing spellings easy and simple. Following are some simple spelling rules in English (along with their exceptions), which will help you avoid commonest spelling errors: Adding A Prefix This is the simplest of the rules. Adding a prefix does not affect the spelling at all. You only add the prefix to the original word as in dissatisfy, unhappy, etc. Final E Rules The E coming at the end of a word is a huge stumbling block and many are known to falter with it. Spelling rule requires you to drop the word-ending E when adding a suffix beginning with a vowel to a word that ends with a silent E, for instance advancing, managing, etc. If, on the contrary, the suffix begins with a consonant, you will not need dispensing with the final E, e.g. advancement, management, etc. Rule has it that if the silent E is preceded by another vowel, you will need dropping the E while adding the suffix: argument, truly. Rules of pronunciation sometimes prevail over spelling rules and determine the spellings. Thus, if the final E in a word is preceded by a soft C or G, you will not need dropping the E to add the suffix, e.g. courageous, noticeable, etc. Final Y Rules While suffixing a word ending with Y, change the Y to I if it is preceded by a consonant. Thus, occupy becomes occupied, merry becomes merrier. However, there is an exception to the rule – it does not apply to the ending –ing, and so occupying continues with the Y. The rule stands cancelled if the final Y is preceded by a vowel as in saying. The End Consonant Doubling Rule The rule decrees that the number of syllables in a word decide whether or not to double consonants (appearing at the end of a word) when adding a suffix. You will need doubling the ending consonant when adding a suffix beginning with a vowel if the last syllable of the word is accented and that syllable ends in a single vowel followed by a single consonant. Thus, you will need doubling N in beginning/beginner because the last accented syllable in BEGIN has an I followed by N. However, when the first syllable is accented as in OPEN, the ending consonant is not doubled and so you have words like opening/opener. This rule also applies to spellings in which the final consonant is preceded by either another consonant or two vowels as in accepted/accepting or dealer/dealing. Verbs ending with consonants like V, W, X & Y are an exception to this spelling rule. Actually, these consonants cannot be doubled. I preceding E except after C It is not just the first graders, even grown ups are known to slip-up with words that are spelt with both E and I (with either of them following the other). By rule, the letter E should follow the letter I when occurring after any alphabet except after C. Thus, you have E before I in receive, ceiling, etc. while it is the other way round in spellings like thief, relief, etc. Again, E precedes I when the letter-combo EI creates a protracted A sound as in feign, vein, weigh, etc. (Note: Spellings such as either, foreign, height, weird, etc. cannot be categorized and hence you will need to learn the individual spellings by heart). Spelling Rules For Plurals Some words are spelt the same way in both their singular and plural forms but in most cases you will only need adding an S at the end to arrive at the plural form of nouns (e.g. cats, friends, houses, etc.). Nouns ending with S, SS, SH, CH, or X have to be suffixed with ES to be converted into plural forms (e.g. glasses, matches, etc.). The very spellings of some nouns change in the plural form e.g. men, feet, etc. In case a noun ends with either F or FE, rules require you to replace them with V followed by an ES. Thus wolf becomes wolves, knife becomes knives and so on and so forth. Nouns ending in Y preceded by a consonant have their Y substituted by I followed by ES in their plural form, e.g. countries, pantries. If, however, the Y is preceded by a vowel, adding an S at the end will suffice e.g. keys. Abiding by the above spelling rules will give you a good command over English spellings. For better results, you can give yourself reading and writing practice.

Spelling List – Grade 7 – Week 20

Engage
Comparison
Therefore
Leap
Prefer
Weapon
Bound
Fortunate
Victim
Prisoner
Struggle
Beyond
Intention
Recover
Contrary
Sensible
Bridle
Mercy
Curve
Radiator

In order to view these worksheets you will need the ADOBE ACROBAT READER. It is free just click on name and download it!

Week 20 Worksheets

Click on the title for a full size printable version.

Decode the Word

ABC Order

Spelling List – Grade 7 – Week 20

Engage
Comparison
Therefore
Leap
Prefer
Weapon
Bound
Fortunate
Victim
Prisoner
Struggle
Beyond
Intention
Recover
Contrary
Sensible
Bridle
Mercy
Curve
Radiator

In order to view these worksheets you will need the ADOBE ACROBAT READER. It is free just click on name and download it!

Week 20 Worksheets

Click on the title for a full size printable version.

Decode the Word

ABC Order

Spelling List – Grade 7 – Week 16

Variety
Cultivate
Singular
Popular
Military
Including
Dyeing
Attractive
Admire
Remarkable
Roots
Entrance
Fund
Breathing
Scrape
Develop
Justify
Tongue
Shrubbery
Disturb

In order to view these worksheets you will need the ADOBE ACROBAT READER. It is free just click on name and download it!

Week 16 Worksheets

There is a worksheet for each day of the week.

Click on the title for a full size printable version.

Definitions

Mad Scramble

Word Search

Decode the Word

ABC Order

Spelling List – Grade 7 – Week 13

Custom
Annual
Musical
Discuss
Organize
Chorus
Recite
Poetry
Organ
Director
Dough
Orchestra
Distrust
Semester
Senior
Religion
Trial
Minister
Reindeer
Superintendent

In order to view these worksheets you will need the ADOBE ACROBAT READER. It is free just click on name and download it!

Week 13 Worksheets

There is a worksheet for each day of the week.

Click on the title for a full size printable version.

Definitions

Mad Scramble

Word Search

Decode the Word

ABC Order

Spelling List – Grade 1 – Week 3

me
get
I
up
this

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Week 3 Worksheets

There is an activity for each day of the week.

Click on the title for a full size printable version.

Flashcards

Decode the Word

Word Shapes

Coloring Sheet

Handwriting

These are simple, fun activities you can do at home. They are especially suited to reluctant readers, but can be used with all beginners.

Reading activities are vital for all stages of life, especially childhood. Actually, reading is the best way of acquiring knowledge and so children should be made to get into the habit of reading.

A popular reading activity for preschool / kindergarten children is to read to them. Reading aloud to children will help them grow familiar with sounds and vocabulary. After reading, ask your child simple questions like “If she liked the story and why?”, “Which character she liked the most?”, etc. to involve your child deeply with the reading activity.

Reading activities need not always be restricted within-doors and you can have your child read menus when you are in a restaurant, name objects when strolling in the supermarket, spell and read just about anything they come across when traveling in a car.

When your child grows a little old, build reading activities into a routine. A regular reading session, say for 30 minutes a day in the evening, with all family members gathered in the study will be sufficient to get your child hooked to books and magazines. Gift your elementary-level learner with books, magazines and other reading aids on a wide array of topics like entertainment, natural phenomenon, travel & tourism, sports, etc. imparting a level of understanding apt for them. This will firmly anchor their interest in reading.

This bespeaks of children who love to read or being read to. They are a great boon for the parents. Statistics, however, shows that this is true of only a handful of children. Restlessness is natural in children and the majority of them cannot be made to sit at a place for long to read (or be read to). In fact, many flee at the sight of books. Therefore, you need to plan fun-filled reading activities for such reluctant children – activities that do not revolve round textbooks only.

Picture puzzles, word and sentence games are so interesting that they simply work wonders even with the most unwilling readers, provided you turn them into engaging activities instead of monotonous assignments. For more excitement, you can make these group activities.

Start with picture games. These are perfect for kids. Make pairs of cards, one with the picture and the other with the word; ask the child to match words to pictures. Another interesting activity for kids would be to make them familiar with sounds (not just letters). Write down words in a flash card (choose words that the child already knows). Ask him to pick up and read out words beginning or ending with a particular sound. You may also ask him to choose similar sounding words, etc.

As your child grows older, you can plan word /sentence games. Write jumbled words and ask the child to re-arrange it. When the child is able to tackle words very easily, go for sentences. The child will initially make silly sentences. With more practice, the sentences will grow smarter. At this stage, you can also make use of picture collages. Make a collage and ask the child to compose a story on it.

These are only to list a few of engrossing reading activities and you can come up with lot many more. Nevertheless, if you really want to succeed with the reading activities, be sure to shower praises and amply reward children for their attempts.

Fun Reading Activities Page 1
Fun Reading Activities Page 2

Can you imagine constructing a correct English sentence without English Grammar? No, you cannot, because thinking about English Language without English Grammar is like a human body without a backbone. It would never stand. Grammar in English is meant to make things more easy and meaningful. The grammar mainly deals with two forms – descriptive and predescriptive. Development of grammar and using it aptly is the ultimate goal of natural language processing.

Fundamentals of English Grammar

To have a proper understanding of the grammatical rules in English let us first begin with the basic components. When you turn the first page of a book of grammar you come to learn about sentence, phrase, subject and predicate and parts of speech like noun, noun number, noun gender, pronoun, adjective, verb, adverb, preposition, conjunction and interjection.

Sentence in English Grammar

A sentence is a group of words, which makes a complete sense. A sentence always begins with a capital letter. A sentence should always have a verb. All sentences have subjects and predicates with or without objects.

Example  

1. She sang sweetly.

Sang = Verb
She = Subject

Sang sweetly = Predicate

2. He went to the market.

Went = Verb
He = Subject

Sentences are of four types.

1. Assertive or Statement = I am a boy.
2. Interrogative or Question = How are you?
3. Imperative (Request, Advice and Command) like:

1. 1. Please, give me a glass of water. (Request)
   2. You should see a doctor as soon as possible. (Advice)
   3. Stand up on the bench. (Command)

4. Exclamatory = How beautiful the picture is!

Nouns in English Grammar

Noun is a naming word. It names person, place, animals and things. There are generally six kinds of nouns – Proper, Common, Abstract, Collective, Countable and Uncountable.

Proper Noun:

It names particular person or place. It always begins with a capital letter.
Example: London, Tom, etc.

Common Noun  

It names any person, place, animal or thing
Example: girl, boy, city, town, cow, bird, pen, chair, etc.

Abstract Noun  

It refers to a particular sense or image. It is something, which we can feel and imagine but we cannot see or touch.
Example: air, love, laughter, beauty, anger, etc.

Collective Noun  

It is a name given to a collection or group
Example: herd, bouquet, flock, audience, fleet, troop, etc.

Countable Nouns  

It refers to those, which we can count
Example: pen, chalk, rupee, pieces, etc.

Uncountable Nouns

It refers to those, which we cannot count
Example: water, hair, cloth, paper, etc.

Noun Gender in English Grammar

Noun genders are basically of two types – Masculine Gender and Feminine Gender 

Masculine                                 Feminine
Boy                                          Girl
King                                         Queen
Goose                                      Gander
Actor                                       Actress

Verb in English Grammar

A verb is a doing word. It is about action. Verbs can be transitive (with an object) or intransitive (without an object).

Example:

The sun rises in the east. (Intransitive)
John is flying a kite. (Transitive)

Tense

There are three kinds of tenses – Present Tense, Past Tense and Future Tense. These can be further subdivided into continuous, perfect and perfect continuous.

Simple Present Tense: The cat drinks milk.

Present Continuous Tense (verb + ing): The cat is drinking milk.

Present Perfect Tense: The cat has drunk milk.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense: The cat has been drinking milk.

Simple Past Tense: The bird sang sweetly.

Past Continuous Tense: The bird was singing sweetly.

Past Perfect Tense: The bird had sung sweetly.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense: The bird had been singing sweetly.

Simple Future Tense: I will go to the market.

Future Continuous Tense: I will be going to the market.

However in case of future tense, perfect and perfect continuous are not so applicable.

Person in English Grammar

Person basically deals with pronouns. Persons are of three different types – first person, second person and third person.

First Person Singular Number:  I, me, my, mine
First Person Plural Number:  we, us, our, ours

Second Person Singular Number: you, your, yours
Second Person Plural Number: you, your, yours

Third Person Singular Number: he, she, it, his, him, her, hers, its
Third Person Plural Number: they, their, theirs, them

Remember, in case of third person singular number an “s” is always added to the verb. For example, I play, we play, you play and they play but he plays, she plays and it plays.

Adjective in English Grammar

Adjective is a describing word. It tells us more about a noun. There are usually six different kinds of adjectives. These are adjective of quality, adjective of number, adjective of quantity, demonstrative adjective, interrogative adjective and possessive adjective.

Example

Beautiful woman
Three pencils
Much rice
Those flowers
This chair
Whose name
Which house
My book
His car

Adverb in English Grammar

Adverb too is a describing word. It tells us more about a verb. There are generally five different kinds of adverbs with other significant subdivisions. These include adverb of time, adverb of manner, adverb of place, adverb or frequency, etc.

Example:

Susan sings sweetly.
I woke up at midnight.
He went upstairs.
He seldom comes to our house.

Grammar in English is a body of definite rules with mood voice and other significant specifications. Such rules in English Grammar would help you to successfully explore the world of English language with complete confidence.

A 1st grade reading plan is the basis of 1st grade reading program. Such a program consists of interactive activities, learning games, printable worksheets, assessments and a positive reinforcement. Reading with proper guidance is an important part of first grade reading program.

Language art strands

It is important for you to know that a first grade language art lesson needs to cover all English language art strands. These language art strands include reading comprehension, writing strategies, English language conventions, vocabulary development, literature, writing applications, speaking and listening. These are a bit surprising but they seem to be all vital lessons for a first grade reading curriculum.

What makes the program so exciting?

A 1st grade reading curriculum gives the children a chance to learn through certain essentials like reading worksheets, guided reading, language arts games and several creative procedures that can makes the reading program truly exciting.

How to develop reading skills

With the help of a first grade, reading program a child learns the skill of translating letter patterns to spoken language by making the correct use of phonics, syllabication, and word parts. Such knowledge s are suitably applied for achieving a fluent oral capacity as well as a silent reading aptitude.

Identification and synchronization

At this particular level of guided 1st grade, reading a child is taught how to identify letters, words and sentences. They gradually develop the skill of matching oral words to words that are printed and during a lesson of guided reading, the teachers ask the children to determine the title and author of specific reading selections.

The role of phonetics in 1st grade reading program

Phonetics plays a significant role in a 1st grade reading program. There comes a development in reading skills as children gradually develop the habit of deciphering words with the correct use of phonetics. Several language arts lesson plans can appositely emphasize initial, medial and final sounds especially in case of single syllable words. With the correct use of phonetics, a child also learns how to create and state a series of rhythmic words. In that case, they learn how to blend consonants, and add, delete or change target sounds to bring about a major transformation in words.

Through a first grade, reading program the child also comes to learn the details of compound words and attractions, root words, inflectional forms, and usual word families.

Talking about the next step of a 1st grade reading program

In this particular phase of guided reading lesson children, learn to identify text that deploys sequence or other logical order. In this phase children are taught how to respond and interact to several questions and queries starting with who, when, what, how and where. Here the teacher may ask the student to follow one-step reading instructions and make proper use of context to resolve several doubts about words and sentence meanings.

Therefore, with the help of a 1st grade reading program a child learns how to best communicate through reading and verbal explanations.