Routine · Spelling and dictation
Dictation: sounds, words, a sentence
The student writes sounds, then words, then a sentence that you say, and checks each one.
- Time
- 4 to 8 minutes
- Skill
- Spelling and dictation
- In a session plan
- Dictation
When to use it
At the end of every phonics lesson, to move the new pattern from reading into writing.
Materials
- Lined paper or a whiteboard
- The lesson's dictation sounds, words and sentence
Steps
Shown with example words: sound /sh/; spelling sh; word fish; sentence I wish I had a fish..
Get ready
Have the student write their name and number the lines: sounds, words, sentence.
We do
Say a sound. The student says it back and writes the spelling. For a sound with more than one spelling, say which one you want.
Say: Write /sh/.
Student: Says /sh/ and writes sh.
You do
Say a word, then use it in a short phrase. The student repeats the word, says its sounds on their fingers, then writes it.
Say: Fish. Write fish.
Student: Repeats, segments, writes.
Say the sentence twice. The student says it back, counts the words on their fingers, then writes it.
Say: I wish I had a fish.
Ask the student to reread the sentence, pointing to each word, and check for a capital, spaces and an end mark.
Check
Write each answer for the student to check. They tick what is right and fix what is not, beside their first try.
If the student...
Misspells fish.
Have the student say the word, then say its sounds while touching under each spelling they wrote. Ask which part does not match. Show the right spelling if needed, then they write the word again.
Say: Touch and say. Does each sound have the right letters? Fix that part.
Leaves out a word in the sentence.
Say the sentence again while the student points to each word they wrote. Stop at the gap and have them add the missing word.
Tips
- Having the student repeat each word before writing catches listening errors early.
- Keep first tries visible. The fix beside it shows you what the student knows and what is shaky.
- In a group, walk behind the students as they write and correct on the spot, quietly.
Example words
- Sound
- /sh/
- Spelling
- sh
- Word
- fish
- Sentence
- I wish I had a fish.
Original routines written by Literacy Trail. In the app, every routine is filled with your student's lesson.
Related routines
- Segment to spell with sound boxesSay a word, push a token for each sound, then write the spelling of each sound in its box.4 to 7 minutes · Dictation
- Check and fixTeach the student to proofread their own writing: read it back, touch each sound, find the part that is off, and fix it.3 to 6 minutes · Dictation
- Adding endings: double, drop, changeDecide whether to double the last letter, drop the e, or change y to i before adding an ending, then write the word.5 to 8 minutes · Dictation
Have this routine filled in for every lesson
In Literacy Trail, the session plan picks a routine for each block and fills it with the words, sounds and sentence from your student's lesson. Every plan starts with a 15-day free trial.