Is there anywhere I can get graded spelling lists?

[fuzzpig]

My 7yo DD is about to leave school as we will be homeschooling. She absolutely loved having spellings to learn every week though and it's really made her more aware of spelling when she is writing, so we are keen to continue this.

I am considering getting the Complete Graded Spelling List book (by Kit's Educational Publishing) as I remember similar from when I was at school and it seems easier than coming up with my own list every week! Although I can add in topic related stuff as and when. But if anyone has any similar books to recommend I'd be grateful.

Also though, she had been bringing home a sheet every week with the spellings, on one side it had a table for look cover write check (which she didn't use because that method doesn't work for her) but the other side had a wordsearch and various activities like writing other words with the same ending, choosing the correct spelling/word etc. Unfortunately she doesn't have any I can photograph but does anyone know what this might be? I tried googling to no avail so maybe it's from a book or software? I think it had things like "week two phase six" etc in the corner. If I could print that sort of thing it would be good just for the activities really (and for DS when he's older).

Can anyone help please? :)

(Sorry for ridiculously long post BTW... I'd better focus on helping DD to be concise in her writing! )

For split digraphs write on one card and get your child to cut the card to separate the two letters so that they are physically split and the letter e is moved to the end of the word. It's a really powerful way to demonstrate that they are one sound but divided by another sound. Always say the sound on the first part of the digraph.

Cool, I'll do that thanks :)

TBH, fuzzpig, I'd take mrz's advice and just write the graphemes on post-its as you need them. I tried making grapheme cards many years ago and it was a nightmare; not only are there some 160 - 180 common graphemes but some spell more than one sound so you end up swapping them from set to set or making loads of duplicates, and it's a pain keeping track of where to put back the ones you've used...

Thanks Maizie, I might start with that to see how he gets on then. :)

What do you mean by sets though? Do you mean by sound eg a_e, ai and ay would be in the same set?

I just figured I would shove them all in a (big!) box and say right, can you make the word "light" so he'd have to pick out the right cards. IYSWIM.

But I'll get some postits to try that first... Much cheaper :o

Oh and going back a topic or two, I was searching the library catalogue and found some books of photocopiable resources for phonics and maths, so I might request those (it's free... Since I work there ). There's free (within reason) printing and photocopying at the homework club I can take the DCs to :o

Another question! Sorry

Can anyone recommend a good parent/child-friendly KS2 curriculum guide for maths or English please? This will probably be one of the few things we actually buy, as they don't have them at the library.

I've seen CGP ones that seem popular. Although again if there's a decent PDF lurking somewhere that would be good too.

I found the gov.uk stuff on google which will be useful to read but would prefer something the DCs could look at themselves too IYSWIM.

www.risingstars-uk.com/free-stuff/national-curriculum-parents-guide

Excellent thank you

You might be interested in the resources on CIMT for maths:

www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mepres/primary/default.htm

They have lesson plans, workbooks & a few other resources, all are free. You can also order them for a small fee if you prefer. I see they now have a link on that page, mapping their programme to the 2014 National Curriculum (that's if you are wanting to follow the NC). Otherwise, just follow the programme as is for a good & free curriculum.

Thanks moon :)

Re: the national curriculum, I'm not sure yet - want to keep up with it for numeracy and literacy though.