Revised: 6/5/2014
SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Grade 03 Unit 03: Word Study
Reading Foundational Skills
These units focus on the Reading Standards: Foundational Skills (3 – 5) found in our Common Core Learning Standards. These units are intended to
build students’ phonics and word recognition skills so that students will know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in both reading
and writing.
Lessons outlined in these units should be delivered during the 20 minute phonics/word study time. The foundational skills do NOT replace vocabulary
instruction within the whole group comprehension lesson. The word lists suggest words to be used during the weekly word study time. You are
encouraged to build upon the given word list. Students need to interact with these words daily in a variety of ways. Suggestions are given within the
units.
Research shows that rote memorization of chosen words does not encourage mastery of specific spelling patterns. Learning and interacting with
spelling patterns and syllable types enables students to read and write multisyllabic words based on these patterns. The following units encourage
daily interaction with specific spelling patterns (rather than just specific words) in order to obtain mastery of those patterns.
In order to determine mastery of the weekly skill, students will be tested on a specific word list at the end of each week. This specific word list should
not be given directly to students prior to test administration at the end of the week.
Third Grade Foundational-Unit 3
Weekly Routine:
Day 1 - Introduce Words/Explicit Instruction
Day 2 - Word sorts/Guided Practice/Partner Activity
Day 3 - Deeper Process/Word Meanings/Independent Practice/Do It Now
Day 4 - Proofread/Review/Small group instruction
Day 5 - Reteach/Assessment
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These are resources that can be used in all units:
 Spiral up phonics sets
 Learn Zillion- http://learnzillion.com/
Homework: Here are some homework activity links. These are suggestions of activities that can be used for homework. Please be sure to pick and
choose weekly or daily activities to send home with students for additional practice
Spelling Homework Activities
Tic Tac Toe Spelling Activities
Spelling Activities
Assessment: In the assessment column are mandatory words that you will assess your students on each week. However, there are a variety of ways
in which we can do this. Some examples could be to give a traditional spelling test, sentence dictation, or a multiple choice test or a cloze passage.
Weeks
Words of the week
Week 1
Focus- r
controlled
Vowels: er, ir,
ur
Word List
Writer
Circus
Bird
Shirt
Nurse
Ferment
Blurt
Herd
Firm
Word
Letter
First
Bird
Curb
Focus- R
Controlled
Week 2
Burst
Blurted
Herded
Firmly
Perfect
Mother
Turn
Turtle
Under
Chirp
Burning
Furry
Afternoon
Fur
Sever
stir
Orchard
Artist
High frequency
Words
down
he
many
read
then
which
ate
Prefixes/
Suffixes
Resources
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Draw
Help
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Assessment
Treasures Teacher Manual: Unit 3.
Pages 309E, 287C-287D
o Phonics/Spelling Book 61-65
o Practice Book 105-106
LearnZillion: Decode R-Controlled
Vowels in Isolation RF3.4/
Decode -ir &- ur Syllables in
Isolation RF3.4
R-controlled vowel cards
R-controlled vowel resources and
worksheets
R-controlled vowel online activities
FCRR High Frequency word activities
R-Controlled vowels Flashcards
R-Controlled Vowels Handout
Songs for Teaching
Spelling Assessment
List
Treasures Teacher Manual Unit 3:
pages 345E, 311C-311D
Spelling Assessment
List
Firm
Bird
Shirt
First
Turn
Nurse
Burst
Letter
Under
Word
HFW:
Then
Many
Read
Weeks
Words of the week
Vowels: ar, or
Word List
Bark
Chore
Porch
Sore
Hard
Shorts
wore
Pour
Sport
Sharks
Storms
Sharp
Carve
Story
Week 3
Focus- Prefixes
re, un, pre, mis
Word List
Misfile
Unwanted
Recycle
Retold
Preplan
Precut
Misread
Recall
Unload
Prejudge
Chart
Scar
Star
Tar
Jar
Actor
Snore
Bore
Score
Superstar
Handlebar
Guitar
Costar
High frequency
Words
May
red
there
white
away
Prefixes/
Suffixes
Resources
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
Precook
Precool
Preschool
Predict
Unable
Unkind
Unaware
Unjust
Unbelievable
Reread
React
Readjust
Reappear
Drink
Her
Me
ride
these
who
be
Prefixes re, un,
pre, mis
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Phonics/Spelling Book: 67-72, Practice
Book: 115, 116
LearnZillion:
o http://learnzillion.com/lessons/1180decode-ar-syllables-in-isolation
o http://learnzillion.com/lessons/1185review-decode-rcontrolledsyllables-in-isolation
o http://learnzillion.com/lessons/1183decode-or-syllables-in-isolation
o http://learnzillion.com/lessons/1182read-ar-syllables-in-context
Word Sort-Essential Word Sorts for
Intermediate Grades Teachers Guide
Words Their Way books (by Francine
Johnston, Donald Bear, and Marcia
Invernizzi)
R-Controlled vowels Flashcards
R-Controlled Vowels Handout
FCRR High Frequency word activities
Songs for Teaching
Treasures Teacher Manual Unit 3:
pages 347C-347-D, Phonics/Spelling
Book 73-77, Practice Book 125-126,
LearnZillion:
http://learnzillion.com/lessons/833break-up-words-into-syllables-after-aprefix
Online prefix activities
Prefixes –dis, -un activities
Assessment
Porch
Sore
Storms
Sharp
Hard
Sharks
Jar
Snore
Star
Chart
HFW: away,
there, help
Spelling Assessment
List
Precut
Predict
Precook
Unfair
Unhappy
Unkind
Mistreat
Misunderstand
Retold
Reread
Weeks
Words of the week
Unfair
Mistreat
Unhappy
Uncertain
High frequency
Words
Prefixes/
Suffixes
Mislead
Misbehave
misunderstand
Resources
Assessment
HFW: who,
be, her
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