Emily's Vocabulary Entry

In my second grade classroom, there really isn't a strong emphasis on vocabulary building. The primary focus for learning vocabulary is through spelling tests. The students take a pretest and my CT grades them and gives it back to them. She then puts the correct spelling of the words on the board for the students to write down. She gives them a worksheet as homework so they can practice spelling the words. Then they have a test on them. The test is not just comprised of the 12 spelling words though. There are also 3 high frequency words such as there, their and they're. Then there are 3 challenge words which are words like cornea, Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington (these are just a few I remember off the top of my head). Lastly, my CT will say two sentences and the children have to write down what she said, paying attention not only to spelling but also punctuation. This is a routine and the students are all used to it by now. There is a group of about ten students who have an alternative list, which is more advanced. The only difference is the twelve spelling words. The high frequency words, challenge words and sentences are the same for the entire class.

The only other vocabulary in my classroom that I notice is a word wall. It has high frequency words that students are expected to know such as too, two, to, sat, was, saw, etc.
There is also a classroom set of dictionary's that the students know where they are at and have access to them.