Now & Then — Sentence Dictation:
In a dictation, a teacher or adult says specific words, sentences, sounds, or letters aloud (one at a time), and students write what they hear. Despite being a simple practice, dictation is highly effective! In a sound dictation, I will choose sound patterns (individual letters, or combinations like digraphs, vowel teams, or diphthongs), for students to spell. Only patterns that have previously been taught are chosen. I give immediate feedback on the word and then ask them to rewrite it.
Now & Then — Spelling Tests:
The words on a spelling test may come from a list given early in the week. The words may or may not contain the same or similar phonics patterns (they may be random). This is different from a dictation, where words are carefully selected to include phonics patterns that students have been taught.
In a spelling test, students write their words and I collect the tests to grade them. Dictation is different because students get immediate feedback on each sound, word, or sentence after they write it. During the spelling tests, they will correct their own work.
* This student has drastically improved their phonics knowledge, their phonemic awareness, their letter formation, and the ability to listen and write words. As you can see, the student still needs significant help with “red words” — irregular words that cannot be sounded out, they must be memorized.
* This student has dyslexia and often writes many letter reversals. His areas of weakness are in his ability to sound out short vowel sounds, as well as flipping d, b, p, and q. He is struggling with remembering his red words. He has made significant progress in his phonics knowledge and phonemic awareness and is continuing to learn blended sounds.
* This student has dyslexia and often reverses their d, b, p, q. They have a great grasp on red words. They have an area of weakness in short vowel sounds, as many English learners do. They have made significant progress in phonics and phonemic awareness, as well as letter formation.