Download Spelling Menu

Section Four:
Spelling &
Vocabulary
6th Grade Accountability Word List
These words are expected to be spelled correctly every time you use them
beginning September 1st. Points may be taken off every time a words is spelled
incorrectly.
1
there
John is standing there, near the basketball courts. There is
a big hole in the ground where the pirates dug for buried
treasure.
2
their
Their backpacks are hanging on hooks in the classroom.
3
they’re
=they are; They’re in room 25 and we are in room 26.
4
your
Your mother will chaperone on the field trip.
5
you’re
=you are;
6
to
(preposition); I am going to the store.
7
two
(number); I want two scoops of ice cream.
8
too
9
than
(adverb); I want two scoops of ice cream, too. I don’t want
too much chocolate syrup on my ice cream sundae.
(used in comparisons); Amy is taller than Kevin.
10
then
11
where
(used to show sequence); First we will eat lunch, then we
will have recess.
(adverb; “question” word); Where are you going?
12
were
(verb) Were you asleep when I called?
13
should’ve
=should have; I should’ve eaten the sandwich before I ate
the candy bar. Also: could’ve = could have; would’ve =
would have
14
its
(possessive pronoun); The bird had grown so big it couldn’t fit
in its nest anymore.
15
it’s
= it is;
16
which
Which students didn’t finish their homework?
17
new
had this car for two years; it isn’t new.
18
knew
I knew he could make it to the top of the hill.
Alford
You’re talking too loud!
It’s going to rain today.
2006/2007
19
sincerely
I always sign my letters “Sincerely Yours.”
20
maybe
Maybe I’ll go to the ballgame tonight and maybe I won’t.
21
a lot
I like a lot of mustard on my hot dog!
22
Saturday
I like to sleep in on Saturday and wake up early on Sunday.
23
women
The woman didn’t want to join the other women in the
protest against the war.
24
effect
The effects of the hurricane left the town devastated.
25
affect
The hurricane affected everyone’s life.
26
California
She has lived in California all her life.
27
United States
He has lived in the United States since he was three.
28
American
I am an American citizen.
29
ancient
This year we are studying ancient civilizations.
30
civilization
What are the characteristics of a civilization?
31
hominid
Lucy is the most famous hominid in the archaeology world.
32
archaeology
The study of archaeology allows us to examine remains of
the past.
33
Egypt
They pyramids of Egypt are one of the seven wonders of the
ancient world.
34
Mesopotamia
Will we study Mesopotamia before we study Egypt?
35
Rome
We will finish social studies with the fall of Rome.
36
India
India is a nation and a sub-continent.
37
China
The Great Wall of China is visible from outer space.
38
Sumer
The people of Sumer are called Sumerians.
39
Greece
The Olympics originated in ancient Greece.
40
Israel
The only country with Judaism as the primary religion is
Israel.
Alford
2006/2007
Commonly Misspelled Words
a while
acceptable
accidentally
accommodate
acknowledge
acquaintance
acquire
acquit
amateur
apparent
argument
arrangement
assessment
atheist
barbecue
beginning
believe
broccoli
caffeine
calendar
camouflage
cantaloupe
Caribbean
category
cemetery
changeable
chocolate
collectible
colonel
column
committed
conscience
conscientious
conscious
consensus
definitely
disappear
discipline
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efficient
embarrass
equipment
especially
exaggerate
exceed
exciting
exhilarate
existence
experience
Fahrenheit
fiery
foreign
forth
fourth
fulfill
gauge
generally
grammar
grateful
guarantee
harass
height
hierarchy
humongous
humorous
ignorance
immediate
independent
indispensable
intelligence
jewelry
judgment/judgement
kernel
knowledge
leisure
license
lieutenant
lightning
maintenance
maneuver
marshmallow
medieval
memento
meringue
millennium
miniature
miniscule
miscellaneous
mischievous
misspell
nauseous
necessary
neighbor
noticeable
occasion
occur
occurrence
official
outrageous
parallel
parliament
pastime
perseverance
personnel
picnicked
pigeon
possession
precede
preferable
principal
principle
privilege
pronunciation
publicly
refrigerator
raspberry
questionnaire
receive
recommend
reference
referred
relevant
religious
repetition
restaurant
rhyme
rhythm
ridiculous
sandal
schedule
scissors
sensible
separate
sergeant
sheriff
special
success
supersede
tariff
temperature
thorough
threshold
tomorrow
tongue
twelfth
tyranny
ukulele
vacuum
vague
vicious
weather
weird
2006/2007
Spelling Menu
Be sure to complete the activities on your bi-weekly word list. Then, for
additional practice, complete activities from the menu below. Label the
activities you choose. When you have finished your activities, staple them
together in this order: pre-test on the top, weekly spelling list, spelling
menu items.
Design
Sort
Discover
a word search puzzle
and key out of your
spelling words.
your spelling words
into 3-4 groups based
on spelling features
all the little words
within the spelling
words and list them.
Create
Produce
a word web for your
spelling words e.g.,
a pyramid for each
spelling word. e.g.
t
th
thi
thin
think
shops
YOUR CHOICE
shopping
shop
shopper
shopped
Divide
Author
Hunt
your spelling words
into syllables; be sure
to check the
syllabication rules or
the dictionary!
a short story, witty
sentences, riddles or
poem using your
spelling words
(the poem doesn’t
have to rhyme).
for your spelling
words in magazines
and newspapers, etc.;
Alford
2006/2007
Spelling Rules
Please remember there are always exceptions to the rules and it is best to check a
dictionary if you are unsure of how to spell a word.
1. ADDING S AFTER Y
A. words ending in y after a vowel add s;
stay  stays
journey  journeys
B. words ending in y after a consonant change the y to i and add es.
baby  babies
cry  cries
2. ADDING S AFTER S, CH, SH, X, OR Z
A. words ending in s, ch, sh, x, or z add es
church  churches
brush  brushes
mix  mixes
3. ADDING S AFTER F or FE
A. words ending in f or fe, change the f or fe to v and add es
calf  calves
wife  wives
B. words ending in double f, just add s
cliff  cliffs
stuff  stuffs
4. POSSESSIVE NOUNS
A. Add ’s to any singular noun
boy  boy’s
James  James’s
B.
If a plural noun ends in s, add the ’ after the s
girls  girls’
animals  animals’
Joneses  Joneses’
C. If a plural noun does not end in s, add the ’s like a singular noun
men  men’s
oxen  oxen’s
5. ENDING CONSONANTS
A. double the final consonant and add the suffix in a word that ends in one
vowel and one consonant
win  winner
hop  hopping
6. SILENT E BEFORE A SUFFIX
A. drop the silent e before adding any suffix starting with a vowel
give  giving
shareshared
B. keep the final e if the suffix starts with a consonant
sincere  sincerely
taste  tasteless
7. IE OR EI?
A. i before e except after c or when sounding like a as in neighbor and weigh
believe
receive
reindeer
chief
Alford
2006/2007
Syllabication
About Syllables:
1. Every syllable has one vowel sound
2. The number of vowel sounds in a word equals the number of syllables.
take = 1
school = 1
Eng•lish = 2
Sci•ence = 2
Math•e•mat•ics = 4
How to Divide Words into Syllables:
1. A one-syllable word is never divided.
2. Divide words at the end of a line with a hyphen.
3. Place the hyphen at the end of the first line NOT the beginning of the
next line.
DO THIS …she went home not know-
NOT …she went home not know
ing that her parents had…
had…
-ing that her parents
4. Divide as few words as possible.
5. Do not divide words that are already hyphenated.
Example: He was a good-looking man.
DO NOT DIVIDE good-looking because it is already hyphenated.
6. Do not place a syllable of only one letter at the end of a line and do not
place a syllable of fewer than three letters at the beginning of a line.
DON’T DO THIS …he had tak-
en the coat…
Alford
OR … because Harry was an amazing boy…
2006/2007
Where to Divide Words:
If you are uncertain as to where to divide a word, consult a dictionary! There are
other rules and exceptions, but the following are probably the most helpful
rules:
Rule #1: A compound word is divided between the two words that make up the
compound word.
Example: base´ • ball
Rule #2: When a word has a double consonant, the word is divided between the
two consonants.
Example: bub´ •
ble
Rule #3: When a word ends in a consonant plus le, the word is divided before
the consonant.
Example: pur´ • ple
Rule #4: Consonant blends and digraphs are never separated.
Example: nick´ • el
reach´ • ing
Rule #5: When a word has a prefix or suffix, the syllable division is between the
prefix or suffix and the root word; except with –ed.
Example: un´ • known
kind´ • ness
fright´ • ened
EXCEPTIONS: ed does form a separate syllable when it is preceded by a d or t
Example: start´ • ed
found´ • ed
Rule #6: When a vowel is sounded alone in a word, it forms its own syllable.
Example: u • nite´
Rule #7: When the first vowel in a word has the long vowel sound, the word is
divided after that vowel; or after the diphthong.
Example: ba´ • by
loy´ • al
Rule #8: When the first vowel in a word has the short vowel sound, the word is
divided after the next consonant.
Example: shad´ • ow
Alford
2006/2007
Non-Fiction Reading Words
These are some of the most frequently seen words in non-fiction writing. If you
can master these words and their forms, you will have a great head start in your
reading!
achieve
acknowledge
acquire
administrate
affect
alternative
analyze
approach
appropriate
aspect
assess
assist
assume
authority
available
benefit
category
compensate
component
concept
conclude
consist
constitute
construct
consume
context
contract
contribute
correspond
data
define
derive
design
distribute
ensure
Alford
distinct
document
dominate
economy
element
environment
equate
establish
estimate
evaluate
evident
exclude
facilitate
factor
finance
formula
function
generate
grant
impact
imply
income
indicate
individual
initial
institute
interact
interpret
invest
involve
issue
justify
labor
legal
legislative
maintain
major
margin
maximize
method
obtain
occur
percent
period
policy
potential
principle
proceed
process
proportion
regulate
relevant
require
reside
resource
sequence
significant
similar
source
specific
specify
strategy
structure
survey
technique
theory
transfer
valid
vary
volume
2006/2007
Foreign Words and Phrases
a la carte
ad nauseam
aficionado
amuck or amok
angst
anorak
ballet
boondocks
cafeteria
cargo
carpe diem
carte blanche
chauffer
chow
cigar/cigarette
corduroy
coupon
crayon
denim
entrepreneur
futon
honcho
hors d’oeuvres
kaput
kayak
kindergarten
kow-tow
luau
mano a mano
mea culpa
memoir
menu
moccasin
patio
plaza
pro bono
renaissance
reservoir
restaurant
rodeo
savvy
succotash
taboo
terra firma
terra incognita
tornado
tycoon
typhoon
ukelele
vamoose
veni, vidi, vici
verboten
wampum
yen
Idioms
eager beaver
hold your horses
fly off the handle
at the eleventh hour
make a mountain out of
a mole hill
toot your own horn
see eye to eye
out of the frying pan
and into the fire
cost an arm and a leg
cant’ make heads or
tails of something
the bottom line
down in the dumps
play it by ear
on pins and needles
fish out of water
Alford
feeling blue
red tape
going bananas
butter someone up
bite off more than
you can chew
sour grapes
to be all thumbs
making a monkey
out of someone
on your toes
bull in a china
shop
face the music
to smell a rat
green with envy
under the weather
stuffed to the gills
elbow grease
jump the gun
pie-in-the-sky
two-faced
get one’s wires
crossed
under the weather
to be all ears
nose to the
grindstone
cry wolf
live from hand to
mouth
goose is cooked
talk turkey
head in the sand
spill the beans
shoot the breeze
2006/2007
WOWs
abominable
abrupt
abundant
affection
agile
akimbo
amend
amiable
ample
animated
arduous
arrogant
audible
avid
babble
behemoth
bewilder
billow
bland
boisterous
bountiful
calamity
ceaselessly
chaos
cherish
commence
compassionate
consume
contemplate
cordial
contagious
deceive
deplete
devastate
devour
digress
disposable
dwelling
edible
emit
erosion
etiquette
evade
exacerbate
fatal
fisticuffs
foliage
forage
fragile
frivolous
gracious
grapple
gush
haphazard
harmonious
hinder
impale
inconsolable
jaunt
jubilant
keen
lapse
lavish
legible
lenient
linger
luscious
meander
mortify
nimble
ominous
pedigree
perceive
perennial
perishable
perplex
persevere
persistent
pliable
ponder
prosper
protrude
quench
quest
replenish
ruthless
serene
silhouette
sizzle
spacious
scamper
scorch
scour
sparse
stamina
susceptible
swarm
taut
tedious
temptation
tepid
terminate
testify
tinder
tongue-tied
topsy-turvy
tranquil
translucent
treacherous
trivial
uproarious
valiant
wary
wily
wither
wrath
yammer
yearn
zany
zest
Add some words of your own!
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Alford
2006/2007
How To Write A
Word Master Paragraph
adapted from Miriam Stevenson
1. Use the word in a sentence and underline it.
Examples:
a. Kevin is industrious.
b. We went to a restaurant last night.
c. The test was a piece of cake.
2. Define the word without using it.
Examples:
a. He works hard and never gives up.
b. The place served delicious food.
c. It was so easy for me.
3. Write a sentence describing an action associated with the word.
Examples:
a. He plans ahead to be sure he has enough time to complete all of his
assignments.
b. I ordered my food with the waiter.
c. Having studied for two nights previously, I was prepared.
4. Write another sentence describing an action associated with the word.
Examples:
a. Not only does he work hard at school, but he is also studying
to be an Eagle Scout.
b. Unfortunately, instead of serving my dish piping hot, it
arrived cold.
c. I reviewed the chapters we read in class.
5. Write a sentence explaining how people feel about or react to the word using a
synonym or antonym and underline that word.
Examples:
a. People can count on Kevin to be diligent and complete a job or
project.
b. Never-the-less, even if it is only a cafeteria. I am still happy to go
out-to-eat instead of having to make dinner myself.
c. I felt confident about my answers because the test was not difficult.
Example Paragraphs:
A.
B.
C.
Kevin is industrious. He works hard and never gives up. He plans ahead to be
sure he has enough time to complete all of his assignments. Not only does he
work hard at school, but he is also studying to be an Eagle Scout. People can
count on Kevin to be diligent and complete a job or project.
We went to a restaurant last night. The place served delicious food. I ordered
my food with the waiter. Unfortunately, instead of serving my dish piping hot, it
arrived cold. Never-the-less, even if it is only a cafeteria. I am still happy to go
out-to-eat instead of having to make dinner myself.
The test was a piece of cake. It was so easy for me. Having studied for two
nights previously, I was prepared. I reviewed the chapters we read in class I felt
confident about my answers because the test was not difficult.
From your paragraph people should be able to know what industrious, restaurant, or
piece of cake means!
Alford
2006/2007