Go to page
AFTER READING
Generalization
OBJECTIVE
Connect to Phonics In many
words, the schwa in an
unaccented syllable gives no
clue to its spelling: above,
family, melon. The schwa can
be spelled in a number of
different ways, but it always
has the same sound.
  • Spell words with the
    schwas.
Spelling Words
1.
 above   9. afraid
2.
 another 10. nickel
3.
 upon 11. sugar
4.
 animal 12. circus
5.
 paper 13. item
6.
 open 14. gallon
7.
 family 15. melon
8.
 travel
Challenge Words
16.
 character
19.
 particular
17.
 cardinal 20. dinosaur
18.
 Oregon    
ELL
Spelling/Phonics Support See the
ELL and Transition Handbook for
spelling support.
DAY 1
Pretest and Sort
DAY 2
Think and Practice
DAY 3
Connect to Writing
DAY 4
Review
DAY 5
Posttest
PRETEST
Use the Dictation Sentences from Day 5 to administer the pretest. Read the word, read the sentence, and then read the word again.
Guide students in self-correcting their pretests and correcting any misspellings.
Monitor Progress
then… use
words 1–20
for Advanced
Learners.
If… students
correctly spell
all pretest
words,
then… use
words 1–15
for On-Level
practice.
If… students
misspell 1–4
pretest words,
then… use
words 1–8
for Strategic
Intervention.
If… students
misspell more
than 4 pretest
words,
Spelling
HOMEWORK Spelling Practice
Book, p. 105
Spelling Practice Book
Spelling Practice Book
 p. 105
with | without Answers
TEACH
The schwa in an unaccented
syllable can be spelled in several
different ways. Demonstrate this
by writing each spelling word on
the board. Have students identify
the schwa sound and underline
the vowel or vowels that make
that sound.
nickel
USE THE DICTIONARY Have students copy the list words, look them up in a dictionary, and circle the vowels that are represented by the schwa symbol in the pronunciation key.
HOMEWORK Spelling Practice
Book, p. 106
Spelling Practice Book
Spelling Practice Book
 p. 106
with | without Answers
Spelling & Phonics   Schwa
WRITE AN INVITATION
Ask students to write an invitation
to a party, using at least three spelling words. Have students share their invitations by reading them aloud to the class or display them on the bulletin board.
Although these words seem
easy, third-graders are often confused because the same sound is spelled in different
ways. Alert students to these frequently misspelled words
and encourage them to think carefully before they write
them.
upon
again
beautiful
Frequently Misspelled
Words
HOMEWORK Spelling Practice
Book, p. 107
Spelling Practice Book
Spelling Practice Book
 p. 107
with | without Answers
REVIEW SCHWA
Time students as they write as many list words as they can. Have students exchange papers and check that the words are spelled correctly.
Spelling Strategy
Vowel Combinations
To make words with a schwa easier to spell, encourage students to picture the words in their minds before spelling them.
HOMEWORK Spelling Practice Book, p. 108
Spelling Practice Book
Spelling Practice Book
p. 108
with | without Answers
DICTATION SENTENCES
  1. Hold the ball above your head.
  2. May I please have another cookie?
  3. The cat sat upon the sofa.
  4. A vet is an animal doctor.
  5. Please take out a piece of paper.
  6. What time does the store open?
  7. Sandy has a big family.
  8. We travel every year.
  9. Ned is afraid of the dark.
  10. I have a nickel and a dime.
  11. May I have a cup of sugar?
  12. I can’t wait until the circus comes to town!
  13. What is the third item on the list?
  14. Mom needs to buy a gallon of milk.
  15. The melon was ripe.
CHALLENGE
  1. Who is the best character in the story?
  2. The cardinal is a red bird.
  3. She lives in Oregon.
  4. I don’t like that particular fruit.
  5. The store had a dinosaur display.