Dear Parents,
At Ozark, it is our desire to provide instruction that best supports the needs of our students and to strengthen
spelling and the correct use of words students encounter in their reading and writing.
We use the term high frequency words, but we also refer to these words as “NON-NEGOTIABLE” words. The idea
being that once students have learned these words they are accountable for spelling the words correctly in their
daily work. Attached you will find the lists containing the words chosen at this time by our district as our “NONNEGOTIABLE” words. Each grade level list contains words that the teachers will be helping the students learn by the
end of the year. Teachers may also include words that appear often in their students’ writing as they practice.
Since our goal is the correct spelling and use of these words in daily work, traditional weekly spelling tests will not
occur as frequently. Teachers will be assessing students’ understanding by observing the use of these words in the
student’s writing. Other occasional assessments may be given to provide the teachers with more information to
students’ understanding.
Our focus on High Frequency/ NON-NEGOTIABLE words will be an additional spelling focus and will not replace the
word sort activities that students currently work on in their classroom.
So….How can you help?
Your child will be focusing on his or her grade level words throughout the year, as well as reviewing the
list from previous grades. You can help your child by giving him or her opportunities to write at home. Be
creative…encourage your child to write stories, letters, create how-to-guides for their favorite video games,
sports, hobbies, etc. Support the correct use of their “Non-Negotionable” words as they share their writing
with you.
While using words correctly in writing is our goal, an easy way for you to provide quick practice may
also include:
Quick Write Spelling: Have spelling races on a chalkboard, blank paper or dry erase board. Write it
“quickly, neatly, and correctly”
Play “Can you Spell…?” While traveling in car, waiting in line etc….Give your child a “No Excuse” word
to spell. How many words can they spell correctly in a row? Make it fun by having them spell the words in
various voices- high voice, low voice, whisper voice, opera voice, and squeaky voice.
Look for spelling apps/kid-friendly computer sites that provide games with high frequency words.
(While these may not contain our list of words, the practice can still be beneficial)
Make spelling practice fun for both you and your child. Positive experiences can be such a benefit to their
learning!
Thank you for your continued support!
Ozark Elementary- High Frequency/Non-Negotiable Word List
Kindergarten
the
in
he
as
at
in
is
was
with
be
and
you
for
his
this
a
that
on
they
have
to
it
are
I
from
First grade
or
but
we
there
she
will
many
some
one
not
when
use
do
up
then
her
had
what
your
an
how
other
them
would
by
all
can
each
their
about
these
make
word
were
said
which
if
out
so
like
Second grade
him
two
number
my
call
long
come
into
more
no
tan
who
down
made
time
write
way
first
oil
day
may
has
go
could
water
now
did
part
look
see
people
been
find
get
over
Third grade
new
work
me
after
good
great
before
old
follow
around
sound
no
give
our
sentence
where
line
any
came
form
lake
place
back
thing
man
help
right
same
want
three
only
year
most
just
think
through
too
tell
show
small
little
live
very
name
say
much
mean
boy
also
set
These lists contain words that are either found frequently in student writing or can be used by teachers to help students spell more
difficult words. This is by no means an all- encompassing list of words that are used frequently or need to be known. The list does
provide a starting place in helping students understand that the purpose in learning to spell words is for application in daily reading
and writing. Once a word is known there should be an expectation that these are spelled correctly. Students will know many of
these words prior to the grade level listed. For those students, it becomes more about the awareness of using the word correctly
than learning to spell the word itself.
Fourth grade
put
large
because
went
different
kind
off
animal
mother
learn
end
must
turn
men
home
hand
play
house
answer
should
does
big
here
read
us
picture
spell
point
found
America
another
even
why
need
move
again
air
page
study
world
well
such
ask
land
try
change
away
letter
still
high
Fifth grade
every
own
school
start
thought
left
might
hard
always
got
near
below
father
city
head
don’t
close
open
those
group
add
country
keep
earth
under
few
something
example
both
often
food
plant
tree
eye
story
while
seem
begin
paper
run
between
last
never
light
saw
along
next
life
together
important
Sixth grade
until
mile
began
carry
stop
idea
far
above
young
being
children
night
grow
state
without
enough
wouldn’t
girl
talk
leave
side
walk
took
once
second
eat
real
sometimes
list
family
feet
white
river
book
late
face
almost
boy
soon
it’s
car
sea
four
hear
miss
watch
let
should
song
afternoon
These lists contain words that are either found frequently in student writing or can be used by teachers to help students spell more difficult words.
This is by no means an all- encompassing list of words that are used frequently or need to be known. The list does provide a starting place in
helping students understand that the purpose in learning to spell words is for application in daily reading and writing. Once a word is known there
should be an expectation that these are spelled correctly. Students will know many of these words prior to the grade level listed. For those
students, it becomes more about the awareness of using the word correctly than learning to spell the word itself.