Spelling
Intent
At Marnel Junior School we follow the ‘Spelling Shed’ scheme. Spelling Shed is the most up-to-date scheme available based on cutting edge research into the teaching of spelling.
Our aim is to give children the tools required to write fluently and independently across a range of contexts without spelling becoming a barrier.
Implementation
Spelling is taught at least four times a week in all year groups. Each spelling lesson is based on phonics, morphology and etymology, and includes a main teaching input, which is then followed up with additional activities immediately after the input or revisited throughout the week in order to consolidate the learning further. Repeated practice, short-term retrieval and small-step goal achievement are at the heart of our spelling curriculum.
In spelling lessons, our children continue to build on the firm foundations built whilst studying phonics in their early years of education. Throughout the week, children will learn how to break down spellings into the smallest units of sound and cluster them into syllables to read and write words efficiently.
Each week, the Spelling Shed scheme includes an etymology component that enables children to learn about the origin of the words that they are learning about. Children are able to see how the English language has, over time, borrowed and integrated words and spellings from a range of source languages.
Spelling Shed also provides a wealth of online games which can be accessed both in school and at home to further embed spelling patterns and rules covered within spelling lessons. Mastery Zone is a fantastic tool that adapts children’s spelling revision to their current strengths and areas for development.
New spellings are shared on Seesaw and Spelling Shed on a Monday and tested the following Monday. Their score out of 10 is recorded and the highest average score in the year group is awarded a certificate in merit assembly on Friday. There is also a competition within year groups awarded to the class that have engaged the most with Spelling Shed that week to practise their spellings. For children who struggle with the cognitive load of ten new spellings, this is reduced to five of the spelling word list. For children who are assessed to be working at Pre-Key Stage in writing, they will be using Mastery Zone for daily revision and weekly spelling tests. These pupils will still complete tasks linked to the whole-class spelling list to encourage exposure to new vocabulary and spelling rules.
Each term, a Spelling Slam will be held across the school to engage and excite pupils about Spelling. Pupils will complete tests via Spelling Shed to determine top spellers who will then have the chance to compete in a spelling bee competition, with winners celebrated in Cups of Excellence assembly.
Impact
Children will make good progress from their own personal starting points. They will leave Marnel Junior School with the tools required to write confidently without spelling being barrier. They will be able to apply what they have learnt about orthography, morphology and etymology to access and use high-quality vocabulary in their own writing.
Spelling-Progression-Overview.pdf
Spelling-Shed-Medium-Term-Plan.pdf (please note - stage 3 = year 3)
