English Spelling

Word families are groups of words that share a common pattern or root, like -ight (light, night, fight) or -tion (action, nation, station). Students learn to recognize word patterns and use them to spell and read new words by analogy. Word family knowledge is a powerful spelling strategy for independent writers.

Compound words are formed by joining two or more smaller words to create a new word with a related meaning, like sunshine, notebook or butterfly. Students learn to identify the component words and use them to decode and spell compounds. Understanding compound words expands vocabulary and develops morphological awareness.

Days of the week and months of the year are essential vocabulary for everyday English communication and writing. Students memorize and practice spelling all seven days and twelve months with attention to capitalization rules. These words appear constantly in written English and are necessary for basic academic and personal writing.