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The first few weeks of 3rd grade are spent reviewi

The first few weeks of 3rd grade are spent reviewing and strengthening skills from 2nd grade. We revisit closed and open syllables, different ways to spell vowel and consonant sounds, schwa, short vowel pointers, suffixing conventions, and more.

Then it’s time to introduce morphology!

I ALWAYS start with words students already know. Word sums help me introduce basic word structure in a way students can see, manipulate, and discuss.

We take words like does, going, unkindly, and reusing and break them into meaningful units. We examine how bases and affixes work together, discuss the spelling conventions that govern their use, and connect familiar words to the more complex, multisyllabic and multimorphemic words students encounter in text.

The goal…? Help students see that English words have structure and that there’s a reason behind the way we spell them.

And the best part? You don’t need a new curriculum or program to get started. Just a whiteboard, a marker, and an eraser!

A word sum is a visual representation that breaks a word down into its individual morphemes (bases, prefixes, connecting vowel letters, and suffixes) using plus signs (+) and a rewrite arrow (→).

un + stop + able -> unstoppable
re + use + ed -> reused

Stay tuned to see what this looks and sounds like!

Start with the words your students already know, and build from there.

Not sure where to start or looking to build your own understanding of English spelling… check out my Unlocking English course available on my website!

Looking for a done-for-you morphology lessons with all the pieces your curriculum is missing… check out my Mastering Morphology bundle!

Together, we WILL kick illiteracy’s ass, one #structuredliteracy lesson at a time! 👊🏼🧡

#teacher #teachertips #spelling #morphology

Let’s all smell the flowers and blow out the candl

Let’s all smell the flowers and blow out the candles!

👃
💐
😮‍💨
🤣

#teacher #teachertired #teacherlife #teacherhumor

Part 3 of my dictation routine is word-level dicta

Part 3 of my dictation routine is word-level dictation!

I say a word, have students repeat it, and use it in a sentence. Then they get to work!

Students analyze the individual sounds they hear and the letter or letters that can spell them. I remind students to identify and spell the base first, then determine whether they need to add a prefix or suffix.

When we’re first starting out, I use simple words that allow students to focus on suffixing conventions, like doubling the final consonant or dropping the final silent e.

Think hopping vs. hoping or mopping vs. moping.

As students build their skills, I introduce longer, more complex words like stirred, unstoppable, reusing, and prepared. The goal is to apply the same conventions to increasingly complex words.

🚨 One word can be a springboard for so much learning…. A word like <reusing> gives us an opportunity to discuss phonemes and graphemes, the base, the prefix, the suffix, and the spelling convention that applies when adding a vowel suffix. We can connect phonology, morphology, grammar, and vocabulary, all within one routine!

Make sure to give students time to do the thinking. I walk around, observe, and offer support as needed, but I want to see what they can retrieve and apply independently BEFORE I model the answer.

Then we analyze each word’s structure together, and students check their work.

Dictation is about so much more than spelling a word correctly. It’s an opportunity to connect what students know about how English works and put that knowledge into practice.

Share this with a friend and be sure to follow so you don’t miss Part 4!

Together, we WILL kick illiteracy’s ass, one #structuredliteracy lesson at a time! 👊🏼🧡

#teacher #spelling #teachertips #spellingroutine

In English, there’s almost always more than one wa

In English, there’s almost always more than one way to spell the same sound.

That’s why I start my dictation routine with a review of phonemes and graphemes!

I say a phoneme, students write the different graphemes that can spell it.

Students need to understand that sounds and spellings don’t have a one-to-one correspondence in English.

This helps them:
- Flex vowel sounds when a word doesn’t make sense
- Recognize alternative spellings for the same phoneme
- Understand when and why certain letter patterns are used in spelling
- Apply what they know about English phonology to read and spell unfamiliar words

Understanding the relationships between phonemes and graphemes is essential… and building this understanding takes time.

English phonology is complex; instruction should grow with students not cease to exist when the words they’re expected to read and spell get longer, and more complex.

This quick review gets their brains working and prepares them for the next step in our routine!

Be sure to follow so you don’t miss Part 3!

💬 Do you review phonemes and graphemes consistently throughout the year? If so, any big ideas or suggestions?

💬 If not, what’s your biggest question? What’s holding you back?

#dictation #lettersounds #spelling #teachingideas #teachingtips

One of the reasons dictation is so effective is th

One of the reasons dictation is so effective is that it requires students to retrieve information rather than simply recognize it.

When you plan a dictation lesson, think about what you want students to retrieve and apply.

In K-4 you might include:
- Previously taught phonics skills and patterns
- High-frequency words
- Word families (ask, asking, asked)
- Common morphemes
- Spelling words
- Words students error on
- Words with a specific syllable type
- Sentences that reinforce grammar or language skills

In 5-8, you might include:
- Review of phonemes & graphemes (all the ways to spell /ē/ for example)
- Prefixes and suffixes
- Word origins
- Academic vocabulary
- Science, social studies, or math terms
- Content-specific vocabulary
- Words with complex spelling patterns
- Greek and Latin bases
- Words students are expected to use in writing
- Commonly misspelled words
- Sentences that require students to apply spelling, grammar, and vocabulary together

REMEMBER the whole time you’re doing this you’re reviewing a TON of other language skills and concepts… each word is a springboard for learning.

Dictation gives students repeated opportunities to retrieve what they know, apply it to words and sentences, and receive immediate feedback.

Spelling is not just about memorizing how words look. It’s about learning HOW to apply what you know about how English works.

I’ll see you in part 2! 👊🏼

#structuredliteracy #dictation #spelling #teacher #teacherofinstagram

© 2026 Daydreaming About Data | Becca Paro Design Co.

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