Spelling Continuum

Spelling Continuum
This is a listing of skills within a developmental stage; however, within each
stage, skills may be taught according to the teacher’s professional judgment. For
example, “other long vowel sounds” might be taught later in the “Within-Word
Pattern” stage.
It is recommended that teachers build in ongoing, cumulative reviews for
students at natural breaks in their developmental learning.
Grade level lines indicate mastery levels for the end of each grade. The
mastery levels based on the Nevada English Language Arts Content
Standards (February 21, 2003 Edition)
Letter Name
Correctly spells regular short vowel patterns:
1. CVC and VC (short a)
2. CVC and VC (short i)
3. CVC and VC (short u)
4. CVC and VC (short o)
5. CVC and VC (short e) and Review
6. CCVC
-initial consonant blends
-initial and final consonant digraphs, including -ch/-sh and –th/-wh (-wh
words in the context of high frequency words)
Mastery of levels 1-6 by the end of 1st grade. Instruction should continue beyond for
most 1 st graders. (Correlates to #6 on Bear and Templeton’s Qualitative Spelling
Checklist.)
7. CVCC
-final consonant blends (including –nt, -mp, -st, -nd)
-regular short vowel words with:
-ng
-nk
Within-Word Pattern (single syllable words)
Correctly spells regular long vowel patterns:
8. CVCe (make, tape, hope, kite, cube)
9. Double consonant endings (ss, ff, ll, ck)
Correctly spells other long vowel patterns:
10. Long a Mastery: pail, may (Introduction: veil, weight, great, hey)
11. Long i Mastery: fly, child, tie (Introduction: sight)
12. Long o Mastery: goal, mow, fold, so
13. Long u Mastery: glue, fruit
14. Long e Mastery: seat, feet, he (Introduction: field)
Within-Word Pattern (cont.)
September 2003 Revision

15. R-controlled vowels
-ar
-er (ex: her)
-ir
-ur
-ear (“er,” “ar,” “air”)
-ear (“eer”)
-are/ air
Mastery within 7-15 by the end of 2 nd grade. Instruction should continue beyond for most
2 nd graders.
(Correlates to #7-8 on Bear and Templeton’s Qualitative Spelling Checklist.)
16. Other consonant-influenced vowels
-all/ alt
-aw
-ew
17. Diphthongs
-oy (at the end of words)
and –oi (as in: oil, soil, boil)
-oo (as in: foot, hoof, book)
and –oo (as in: tool, soon, boot)
-ou (as in: out, hour, cloud) including –ou r-controlled (as in: four, pour, your)
and –ow (as in: how, cow)
18. Soft g’s and c’s = followed by –e or –i (cage, giraffe, city, rice)
and hard g’s and c’s
and –dge (ridge, ledge)
19. Short Vowel Patterns
-ea (bread, spread)/ -augh (daughter)/ -ough (thought, brought)
-au
20. Silent consonants
-mb (comb, lamb, bomb) and
-lk (walk, talk, folk) and
-kn (know, knight, knot, knock) and
-gn (gnat, gnome, gnaw) and
-wr (write, wrong, wrist)
21. Other consonant digraphs and letter combinations
-gh sounds like f (rough, tough, cough) and
-ph sounds like f (phone, graph) and
-ch (character) and
-wh (when, which, what, why)
-qu words
Syllable Juncture
September 2003 Revision

This stage begins with two-syllable word instruction and includes simple affixes, spelling
changes for word-ending changes.
22. Contractions
23. Two syllable compound words
24. Two-syllable words
-with double consonant in the middle (sudden)
-VCCV- (winter, number)
25. Two syllable words ending with:
-y (happy, dizzy, penny) and
-y, single medial consonant (pony, cozy, lazy)
-le (little, puddle, bubble)
26. Suffixes that don’t change the base word
-s and es
-ed and ing
-er and est
27. Suffixes that change the base word
-double final consonant on CVC words to add -ed and -ing
-drop silent e to add -ed and -ing
-words ending in consonant y, change the y to i to add -ed, -es, -er, -est
* Also introduce some common homophones and prefixes (pre-, un-)
Mastery levels 16-27 by the end of 3 rd grade. Instruction should continue beyond for most 3 rd
graders. (Correlates to #8-9 on Bear and Templeton’s Qualitative Spelling Checklist.)
28. Plural Rules
-Nouns ending in –f or -fe
-Words ending in –o
29. Irregular plurals
-man/ men, -child/ children, -woman/ women
30. Homophones
31. Prefixes (added to common base words)
-re
-pre (ex: pretest, preview)
-dis
-un
32. Suffixes that begin with a consonant so the base word doesn’t change
-ment (enjoyment, statement)
-ful (thoughtful, watchful, cheerful)
-less (restless, careless)
-ness (illness, fairness)
-ly (slowly)
33. Suffixes that may change the base word
-suffixes beginning with a vowel (-able: passable, excitable, changeable and
-ous: joyous, famous)
-words ending in consonant y, change the y to i to add a suffix (happily, beautiful)
September 2003 Revision

Syllable Juncture (cont.)
34. Hyphenated Compounds (brother-in-law, drive-in, out-of-bounds, cross-country,
twenty-two)
35. Silent consonants
(Ways to extend silent consonants would be to include more difficult words that
include the silent consonants taught in #19 and unique words with silent
consonants such as doubt, island, wreck, herb, answer).
-gh (ghost, ghetto, ghastly); -gn (align, design); -st (listen, castle)
Mastery of levels 28-35 by the end of 4 th grade. Instruction should continue beyond for most 4 th
graders. (Correlates to #10 on Bear and Templeton’s Qualitative Spelling Checklist.)
36. Word endings (common spelling patterns that are part of the base word)
-ure (injure, endure, treasure)
-er (thunder, finger, quarter)
-or (mirror, humor, author)
-ar (pillar, lunar, burglar)
-ain (again, mountain, explain)
-ial (official, cordial)
-ant, -ance, -ent, -ence (fragrant, fragrance, excellent, excellence)
-el/ -le/ -al (nickel, angle, total)
37. Other vowel sounds
-ie/ -ei/ -eigh (field, veil, weigh)
38. Three Syllable Words
Mastery of levels 36-38 by the end of 5 th grade. Instruction should continue beyond for most 5 th
graders. (Correlates to #10 on Bear and Templeton’s Qualitative Spelling Checklist.)
39. VCV words (open/ closed syllables)
40. Accented syllables
Derivational Constancy
Word study at this level concentrates on the meaning of words with classical roots. In
derivational words, the meaning and basic spelling of the word generally remains
constant even though pronunciation often changes.
41. Consonant alternations
-silent sounded (ex: sign/signal, condemn/condemnation, soften/soft)
-/t/ to /sh/ (ex: connect/connection, select/selection) and
-/s/ to /sh/ (ex: confess/ confession; televise/ television) and
-/k/ to /sh/ (ex: music/musician, magic/magician) and
-/d/ to /sh/ (ex: divide/ division; explode/ explosion). Uncommon.
-t/s; d/s; k/s
42. Vowel alternations
-long to short (ex: vain/ vanity; flame/ flammable)
September 2003 Revision

-long to schwa (ex: compete/competition, define/definition)
-schwa to short (ex: local/locality, legal/legality, metal/metallic)
Mastery of levels 39-42 by the end of 6 th grade. Instruction should continue beyond for most 6 th
graders. (Correlates to #12 on Bear and Templeton’s Qualitative Spelling Checklist.)
Derivational Constancy (cont.)
Greek and Latin Word Elements
43. Greek number prefixes:
mono-, uni- /one
bi-, di- / two
tri- / three
quadr-, tetr- / four
penta-, quint- / five
deca-, deci- / ten
cent-, centi- / hundred
demi-, hemi-, semi- / half
kilo-, mil-, milli- / thousand
44. Greek roots
-tele, photo, astr
-phon, graph, auto
-therm, meter, gram
45. Common Greek suffixes
-logy/log/ology
-phobia
-ism/ist
46. Latin roots
-spec, scrib, rupt
-sta, port, ject
-dict, pend
47. Introduction of additional prefixes beyond syllable juncture (ex: inter, intra, super,
sub, pro/pre/post, ex)
48. Additional suffixes beyond syllable juncture (ex: -ible is the suffix form used when
the ending that follows is a root not a full word)
--noun suffixes (-ment, -dom, -ure)
--adjective suffixes (-al, -ile, -ous)
49. Absorbed or Assimilated Prefixes
-prefix + base (im + mobile = immobile)
-prefix + root (ad + cept = accept)
September 2003 Revision

By the end of 9 th grade
Derivational Constancy is an adult level of spelling and learning. Student growth can
continue indefinitely with challenges such as:
-rh (rhyme, rhythm)
-mn (mnemonic, condemn)
-psy (psychology)
-pneum
September 2003 Revision

Resources Provided for Every Teacher:
Words Their Way, Donald R. Bear, Shane Templeton, et al., Prentice Hall, 1996.
ISBN 0-02-307490-6. (Grades K-6)
Spelling Sourcebook 1 and 2, 3, or 4, Rebecca Sitton, Egger Publishing, 1996.
ISBN 1-886050-00-7. (Grades 1-6)
Signs for Sounds – Phonics, Carolyn Bechthold & Del L. Bechthold, Educational Support
Systems, 1976. (Grades 1-2)
DCSD Spelling Resource Binder, DCSD Spelling Committee, 1999. (Grades K-6)
Resources Available at Every School:
Spelling and Vocabulary Teacher’s Book, Shane Templeton, Senior Author, Levels 1-6,
Houghton Mifflin, 1998.
Level 1 ISBN 0395855357 Level 2 ISBN 0395855365
Level 3 ISBN 0395855373 Level 4 ISBN 0395855381
Level 5 ISBN 039585539X Level 6 ISBN 0395855403
Spelling and Vocabulary Teacher’s Resource Book, Shane Templeton, Senior Author,
Levels 1-6, Houghton Mifflin, 1998.
Level 1 ISBN 0395855470 Level 2 ISBN 0395855489
Level 3 ISBN 0395855497 Level 4 ISBN 0395855500
Level 5 ISBN 0395855519 Level 6 ISBN 0395855527
Word Building: Learning about Roots and Prefixes, Joan Robinson, Fearon Teacher
Aids, 1989. ISBN 0-8224-7450-6.
Word Wise: Expanding Vocabulary with Roots and Prefixes, Joan Robinson, Fearon
Teacher Aids, 1985. ISBN 0-8224-7452-2.
Word Strength: Using Roots and Prefixes, Joan Robinson, Fearon Teacher Aids, 1989.
ISBN 0-8224-7451-4.
Plain English Series: Spelling, Kathleen Knoblock, Frank Schaffer Publications, Inc.,
1995.
Word Study, Levels A-E, Ervin, Elwell, Murray, and Kucia, Modern Curriculum Press,
1995.
Level A ISBN Level B ISBN
Level C ISBN Level D ISBN 0-8136-0123-
1
Level E ISBN 0-8136-0239-4
Word Stems: A Dictionary, John Kennedy, Soho Press Inc., 1996. ISBN 1-56947-051-0
September 2003 Revision

Spelling Yearbook, Grade 5, Marie Jose Shaw, ESP Publishers, Inc., 1992.
September 2003 Revision

Other Suggested Resources:
A good college dictionary!
The Reading Teacher’s Book of Lists, Edward Bernard Fry, PhD, et al, Prentice Hall,
1993. ISBN #0-13-762014-4.
The Spelling Teacher’s Book of Lists, Jo Phenix, Pembroke Publishers Ltd.,1996.
ISBN 1-55138-066-8.
Word Wise Sourcebooks, Barbara Schmidt and Maurice Poe, Egger Publishing.
Stock Number 41-0160 (Northwest Textbook Depository)
Spelling Through Phonics, Marlene J. McCracken and Robert A. McCracken, Peguis
Publishers Limited, 1982.
The Writing Road to Reading, 4 th edition, Spalding and Spalding, Morrow, 1990. ISBN
0-68-810007-4 (Kennedy’s Books)
September 2003 Revision

First Grade Priority Word List
1. a
2. and
3. are
4. as
5. at
6. be
7. by
8. for
9. from
10. had
11. have
12. he
13. his
14. I
15. in
16. is
17. it
18. not
19. of
20. on
21. one
22. or
23. that
24. the
25. they
26. this
27. to
28. was
29. with
30. you
September 2003 Revision

Second Grade Priority Word List
1. a
11. can
21. it
31. this
2. all
12. for
22. not
32. to
3. an
13. from
23. of
33. was
4. and
14. had
24. on
34. we
5. are
15. have
25. one
35. were
6. as
16. he
26. or
36. what
7. at
17. his
27. that
37. when
8. be
18. I
28. the
38. with
9. but
19. in
29. there
39. you
10. by
20. is
30. they
40. your
September 2003 Revision

Third Grade Priority Word List
1. a
18. has
35. one
52. to
2. about
19. have
36. or
53. two
3. all
20. he
37. other
54. up
4. an
21. her
38. out
55. was
5. and
22. his
39. said
56. we
6. are
23. how
40. she
57. were
7. as
24. I
41. so
58. what
8. at
25. if
42. some
59. when
9. be
26. in
43. that
60. which
10. but
27. into
44. the
61. will
11. by
28. is
45. their
62. with
12. can
29. it
46. them
63. would
13. do
30. many
47. then
64. you
14. each
31. more
48. there
65. your
15. for
32. not
49. these
16. from
33. of
50. they
17. had
34. on
51. this
September 2003 Revision

Fourth Grade Priority Word List
1. a
28. does
55. just
82. our
109. through
2. about
29. down
56. know
83. out
110. time
3. after
30. each
57. like
84. over
111. to
4. all
31. even
58. little
85. part
112. too
5. also
32. find
59. long
86. people
113. two
6. an
33. first
60. look
87. place
114. up
7. and
34. for
61. made
88. right
115. use
8. another
35. from
62. make
89. said
116. very
9. any
36. get
63. man
90. same
117. was
10. are
37. go
64. many
91. see
118. water
11. around
38. good
65. may
92. she
119. way
12. as
39. had
66. me
93. so
120. we
13. at
40. has
67. more
94. some
121. well
14. back
41. have
68. most
95. such
122. were
15. be
42. he
69. much
96. take
123. what
16. because
43. her
70. must
97. than
124. when
17. been
44. here
71. my
98. that
125. where
18. but
45. him
72. new
99. the
126. which
19. by
46. his
73. no
100. their
127. who
20. called
47. how
74. not
101. them
128. will
21. came
48. I
75. now
102. then
129. with
22. can
49. if
76. of
103. there
130. words
23. come
50. in
77. on
104. these
131. work
24. could
51. into
78. one
105. they
132. would
25. day
52. is
79. only
106. think
133. write
26. did
53. it
80. or
107. this
134. you
27. do
54. its
81. other
108. three
135. your
September 2003 Revision

Fifth Grade Priority Word List
1. a
2. about
3. after
4. again
5. air
6. all
7. along
8. also
9. always
10. an
11. and
12. another
13. any
14. are
15. around
16. as
17. asked
18. at
19. away
20. back
21. be
22. because
23. been
24. below
25. between
26. big
27. both
28. but
29. by
30. called
31. came
32. can
33. children
34. come
35. could
36. day
37. did
38. different
39. do
40. does
41. don’t
42. down
43. each
44. end
45. even
46. every
47. few
48. find
49. first
50. food
51. for
52. form
53. found
54. from
55. get
56. give
57. go
58. going
59. good
60. great
61. had
62. has
63. have
64. he
65. help
66. her
67. here
68. him
69. his
70. home
71. house
72. how
73. I
74. if
75. important
76. in
77. into
78. is
79. it
80. its
81. just
82. keep
83. know
84. large
85. last
86. left
87. like
88. line
89. little
90. long
91. look
92. made
93. make
94. man
95. many
96. may
97. me
98. men
99. might
100. more
101. most
102. much
103. must
104. my
105. name
106. never
107. new
108. next
109. no
110. not
111. now
112. number
113. of
114. off
115. often
116. old
117. on
118. one
119. only
120. or
121. other
122. our
123. out
124. over
125. own
126. part
127. people
128. place
129. put
130. read
131. right
132. said
133. same
134. saw
135. say
136. school
137. see
138. set
139. she
140. should
141. show
142. small
143. so
144. some
145. something
146. sound
147. still
148. such
149. take
150. tell
151. than
152. that
153. the
154. their
155. them
156. then
157. there
158. these
159. they
160. think
161. this
162. those
163. thought
164. three
165. through
166. time
167. to
168. together
169. too
170. two
171. under
172. until
173. up
174. us
175. use
176. very
177. want
178. was
179. water
180. way
181. we
182. well
183. went
184. were
185. what
186. when
187. where
188. which
189. while
190. who
191. why
192. will
193. with
194. words
195. work
196. world
197. would
198. write
199. you
200. your
September 2003 Revision

Sixth Grade Priority Word List
1. a
2. about
3. above
4. across
5. after
6. again
7. against
8. air
9. all
10. almost
11. along
12. also
13. always
14. an
15. and
16. animal
17. another
18. answer
19. any
20. are
21. around
22. as
23. asked
24. at
25. away
26. back
27. be
28. because
29. been
30. began
31. being
32. below
33. best
34. better
35. between
36. big
37. both
38. boy
39. but
40. by
41. called
42. came
43. can
44. change
45. children
46. come
47. could
48. country
49. day
50. did
51. different
52. do
53. does
54. don’t
55. down
56. during
57. each
58. earth
59. end
60. enough
61. even
62. ever
63. every
64. example
65. far
66. father
67. feet
68. few
69. find
70. first
71. food
72. for
73. form
74. found
75. four
76. from
77. get
78. give
79. go
80. going
81. good
82. got
83. great
84. had
85. hand
86. hard
87. has
88. have
89. he
90. head
91. hear
92. heard
93. help
94. her
95. here
96. high
97. him
98. his
99. home
100. house
101. how
102. however
103. I
104. if
105. important
106. in
107. into
108. is
109. it
110. it’s
111. its
112. just
113. keep
114. kind
115. knew
116. know
117. land
118. large
119. last
120. left
121. let
122. life
123. light
124. like
125. line
126. little
127. live
128. long
129. look
130. made
131. make
132. man
133. many
134. may
135. me
136. men
137. might
138. more
139. most
140. mother
141. much
142. must
143. my
144. name
145. near
146. need
147. never
148. new
149. next
150. night
151. no
152. not
153. now
154. number
155. of
156. off
157. often
158. old
159. on
160. once
161. one
162. only
163. or
164. other
165. our
166. out
167. over
168. own
169. page
170. paper
171. part
172. people
173. picture
174. place
175. put
176. read
177. right
178. room
179. said
180. same
181. saw
182. say
183. school
184. sea
185. second
186. see
187. sentence
188. set
189. several
190. she
191. should
192. show
193. side
194. since
195. small
196. so
197. some
198. something
199. soon
200. sound
201. still
202. story
203. study
204. such
205. sun
206. sure
207. take
208. tell
209. than
210. that
211. the
212. their
213. them
214. then
215. there
216. these
217. they
218. thing
219. think
220. this
221. those
222. thought
223. three
224. through
225. time
226. to
227. today
228. together
229. told
230. too
231. took
232. top
233. try
234. turned
235. two
236. under
237. until
238. up
239. us
240. use
241. very
242. want
243. was
244. water
245. way
246. we
247. well
248. went
249. were
250. what
251. when
252. where
253. which
254. while
255. white
256. who
257. whole
258. why
259. will
260. with
261. without
262. words
263. work
264. world
265. would
266. write
267. year
268. you
269. young
270. your
September 2003 Revision

September 2003 Revision
16
sp - preface