Our Sharks Can Write!
And they can spell it right!
While many people embrace technology to help with writing, anyone who has experienced autocorrect's habit of selecting the wrong spelling or wrong word knows that technology isn't always perfect.
JCDS knows that students need a deep understanding of phonics, spelling, and a workable vocabulary. Learning to spell words properly fosters effective communication, promotes confidence in writing, and enhances critical thinking skills. This is a step-wise process, and it begins early.
Our Pre-K 3 students begin using the Fundations curriculum to introduce letter exploration and pre-writing. In Pre-K 4, they focus more on letters and letter sounds. The students begin to write capital letters!
"We have a few vocabulary lessons throughout the week," said Pre-K 4 teacher Karen Connelly. "For many of the lessons, our students use props to help illustrate the new words."
Our Kindergarten Sharks continue to learn all of the letters of the alphabet, both uppercase and lowercase.
"We work a lot on hearing beginning sounds in words, ending sounds in words, and vowel sounds!" said Kindergarten teacher Meghan Warford.
Ms. Warford's class has started to "tap out" CVC words — consonant, vowel, consonant — to learn words like cat, hen, wig, dog, and run.
They are also learning sight words, the most commonly used words in the English language, such as can, the, and, go, etc. Sight words are important because they shouldn't require the young reader to use their phonics skills to sound them out; they should be automatic.
Beginning in Kindergarten, students may use "inventive spelling" to write, which encourages them to write the sounds they hear.
First-graders have a dedicated time of day for students to learn phonics.
"This time is crucial to their learning to both read and spell," said first grade teacher Sarah Brinson. "We go through a specific and calculated curriculum to teach students phonics skills."
As the students acquire new phonics skills, they are expected to apply them in their writing. The same goes for learning new trick words (another name for sight words.)
The first-grade students also have additional resources around the room to help them out, including word walls full of the trick words they have learned, phonics posters, and their Words I Use When I Write textbook.
Students in first grade begin writing their own books! They may be written on paper or by using the iPad app Book Creator.
By fourth grade, phonics lessons begin to be replaced by grammar and vocabulary lessons, as most of the phonics rules should be internalized. Students are encouraged to accurately spell words as "inventive spelling" is phased out.
"I think it is important because having the wrong spelling can really mess things up," said 5th-grade student Leo M. "If you are trying to spell there but you accidentally spell their, it might mess up the reader's idea of the story."
"I do test them on the vocabulary weekly, and they are expected to know how to correctly spell the words given to them," said 5th- and 6th-grade teacher Melissa Lamph.
Often, the vocabulary words that are introduced to students come from a book they are reading or are aligned with a part of their academic curriculum. This month, Ms. Lamph focused on words pulled from the book Bud, Not Buddy for 5th grade. She assigns 10 words a week for both grades.
JCDS students in 5th and 6th grades are also able to participate in the school-wide spelling bee, held once a year. The winner goes on to the county-wide competition.
Our Sharks are well-known for being excellent communicators. They excel in their abilities to speak, write, and spell. Teachers and administrators from area middle schools have often commented on the exceptional quality of writing produced by our graduates.
Often, the vocabulary words that are introduced to students come from a book they are reading or are aligned with a part of their academic curriculum. This month, Ms. Lamph focused on words pulled from the book Bud, Not Buddy for 5th grade. She assigns 10 words a week for both grades.
JCDS students in 5th and 6th grades are also able to participate in the school-wide spelling bee, held once a year. The winner goes on to the county-wide competition.
Our Sharks are well-known for being excellent communicators. They excel in their abilities to speak, write, and spell. Teachers and administrators from area middle schools have often commented on the exceptional quality of writing produced by our graduates.
Jacksonville Country Day School
Located in Jacksonville, FL, Jacksonville Country Day School is a private school for Pre-K 3 through 5th grade. JCDS prepares students for a healthy and productive lifetime of intellectual exploration, character development, and social responsibility.
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