Prefixes Un, Re and Sounds for "J" and "S"

As always, there were two spelling lists:  one for the 3rd graders and one for the 4th graders.  The 3rd graders had a list that focused on the prefixes "un" and "re".  The 4th graders' list focused on using "dge" and "ge" to make the "j" sound and words that had "ce" to make the "s" sound. 

To try and meet the needs of all the students, I divided the students up into 4 groups:  2 3rd grade groups (one for "un" and one for "re") and 2 4th grade groups (one for the "j" sound and one for the "s" sound).  I told them to start by looking for words in their spelling lists, but they were also going to have 10 minutes to find as many words that followed the rule or pattern that their group was responsible for.  They could use anything in the classroom to help them find the words.  It was interesting to watch many students using the dictionary while other students walked around the room to see if any of the words posted on our walls matched the rule or pattern.

In addition to using the dictionary, it was interesting to observe the other strategies students used.  Some of them tried rhyming words to make more words like mice, ice, nice, rice and so on.  Some 3rd graders just started adding the prefixes to words they thought the definition made sense with.  For example, the "re" group had "relook", thinking it made sense when they put "look again" together. 

After 10 minutes, we had each group present their list.  The words had to be spelled correctly, they had to be words, and they had to be capitalized correctly.  If a student wanted to challenge a word they could.  That student would have to win the challenge by proving the other team wrong by using the dictionary.  If the challenge was successful, then the group would not get credit for that word.  They would have to spell it correctly or cross it off if it wasn't a word.  Then each group counted up the number of words they got correctly and wrote the number on the back of the poster.  These posters will be posted around the room, and students will be encouraged to add words when they find others that fit these rules, just as they do with the other spelling posters we have posted around the room. 

Today, one of my 3rd graders asked if she could add a word that fit one of the rules we did a couple months ago.  I was thrilled because she was finally understanding the value of having as many words at our fingertips as possible.

Here is an awesome website I found on prefixes, suffixes, root words, silent letters and spelling.