Underwood Elementary

1125 NE Colbern Road, Lee’s Summit, MO

About the Program

Our classrooms use the research based Sitton Spelling program.  The Sitton Spelling philosophy is that words aren't really "mastered" until they are spelled correctly in everyday writing.  Many students can memorize words for a "Friday Test" but if there is no transfer to student writing, what's the point?  Fourth graders are responsible to learn "core words" 336-500 from the list of 1200 words.  Words are arranged on the list in the order of frequency of use in everyday writing.  In addition, words on the “No Excuses/Priority Words List”

We will teach spelling lessons and strategies such as spelling rules, phonics, word patterns etc.  Students will have classroom assignments to practice their spelling skills in context. Visual skills are developed and practiced such as proofreading.  Each week for homework, students will work on five of the words on their "personal list" that need to be learned.  Students will add words to this personal list as the words are spelled incorrectly in their everyday work.  Parents can help by becoming their child's personal spelling editor and assisting with spelling.  While the core word list may look easy, remember that these words, they are also the words that might be misspelled or used incorrectly in everyday written work. 

How are students assessed?

Students are assessed using their everyday writing. Random checks will be made to classroom assignments that could be graded for spelling - science, social studies, language arts, math.  In addition, a "cloze story" test is given in which students listen to a passage read by the teacher and fill in the missing words in the story.  These words come from the core word and priority word lists.   Sentence dictation tests are also given.  The teacher reads four sentences and the students write the sentences including using the correct punctuation.  Again, nearly every word in the sentence dictation comes from the “Core Word” or "No Excuses/Priority Words List.”  

4^th Grade Core Word List Frequency of Use Order
336   become 364   town 392   piece 420   outside 448   carry 476   question	337 grow 365   complete 393   surface 421   power 449   distance 477   wide	338 draw 366   oh 394   river 422   problem 450   although 478   least	339 yet 367   person 395   common 423   longer 451   sat 479   tiny	340 less 368   hot 396   stop 424   winter 452   possible 480   hour	341 wind 369   anything 397   am 425   deep 453   heart 481   happened
342 behind 370   hold 398   talk 426   heavy 454   real 482   foot	343 cannot 371   state 399   whether 427   carefully 455   simple 483   care	344 letter 373   list 400   fine 428   follow 456   snow 484   low	345 among 373  stood 401   round 429   beautiful 457   rain 485   else	346 able 374   hundred 401   dark 430   everyone 458   suddenly 486   gold	347 dog 375   ten 403   past 431   leave 459   easy 487   build
348 shown 376   fast 404   ball 432   everything 460   leaves 488   glass	349 mean 377   felt 405   girl 433   game 461   lay 489   rock	350 English 378   kept 406   road 434   system 462   size 490   tall	351 rest 379   notice 407   blue 435   bring 463   wild 491   alone	352 perhaps 380   can't 408   instead 436   watch 464   weather 492   bottom	353 certain 381   strong 409   either 437   shell 465   miss 493   check
354 six 382   voice 410   held 438   dry 466   pattern 494   reading	355 feel 383   probably 411   already 439   within 467   sky 495   fall	356 fire 384   area 412   warm 440   floor 468   walked 496   poor	357 ready 385   horse 413   gone 441   ice 469   main 497   map	358 green 386   matter 414   finally 442   ship 470   someone 498   friend	359 yes 387   stand 415   summer 443   themselves 471   center 499   language
360 built 388   box 416   understood 444   begin 472   field 500   job	361 special 389   start 417   moon 445   fact 473   stay	362 ran 390   that's 418   animals 446   third 474   itself	363 full 391   class 419   mind 447   quite 475   boat

Fourth Grade Core Word List ABC Order
able check friend less ran summer	alone class full letter reading surface	already common game list ready system	although complete girl longer real talk	am dark glass low rest tall	among deep gold main river that's
animals distance gone map road themselves	anything dog green matter rock third	area draw grow mean round tiny	ball dry happened mind sat town	beautiful easy heart miss shell understood	become either heavy moon ship voice
begin else held notice shown walked	behind English hold oh simple warm	blue everyone horse outside six watch	boat everything hot past size weather	bottom fact hour pattern sky whether	box fall hundred perhaps snow wide
bring fast ice person someone wild	build feel instead piece special winter	built felt itself poor stand within	can't field job possible start yes	cannot finally kept power state yet	care fine language probably stay
carefully fire lay problem stood	carry floor least question stop	center follow leave quite strong	certain foot leaves rain suddenly

4^th Grade “No Excuses” List Also Called “Priority Words” Frequency of Use Order These are words 4th grade students are expected to spell correctly 100% of the time.   This list is the minimum competency for spelling.
1 the 18    his 35    when 52    them 69    time 86    way	2 of 19    they 36    we 53    then 70    could 87    find	3 and 20    at 37    there 54    she 71    no 88    use	4 a 21    be 38    can 55    many 72    make 89    may	5 to 22    this 39    an 56    some 73    than 90    water	6 in 23    from 40    your 57    so 74    first 91    long
7 is 24    I 41    which 58    these 74    been 92    little	8 you 25    have 42    their 59    would 76    its 93    very	9 that 26    or 43    said 60    other 77    who 94    after	10 it 27    by 44    if 61    into 78    now 94    words	11 he 28    one 45    do 62    has 79    people 96    called	12 for 29    had 46    will 63    more 80    my 97    just
13 was 30    not 47    each 64    her 81    made 98    where	14 on 31    but 48    about 65    two 82    over 99    most	15 are 32    what 49    how 66    like 83    did 100   know	16 as 33    all 50    up 67    him 84    down	17 with 34    were 51    out 68    see 85    only

Fourth Grade “No Excuses” List Also Called “priority Words” ABC Order These are words 4th grade students are expected to spell correctly 100% of the time. This list is the minimum competency for spelling.
a could how of the up	about do I on their was	all each if one them we	an first in or then were	and for into other there when	are from is out these which
as had is said they will	at has like see they're with	behave make she this would	been he many so time you	bother more some to you're	by him no than too your
can his not that two what
Our thanks to Mrs. Renz of Redmond, Oregon for use of the Sitton Spelling lists and sites copied from her web site. Some Good Spelling Sites on the Web Spell-Its - Spelling games from BBC Education.  Turn on your speakers! 10 Rules for Better Spellers Quia Spelling Bee - Interactive spelling quizzes

Underwood Elementary	LSR7 School District
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