Word study: accident to arrive

1 · Learn

Work on one or two words at a time, then come back on another day. Say a word with an adult, explain its meaning and notice its tricky letters. Look, cover, write, uncover and check. A copied word is a useful start; remembering it later and using it correctly are the next steps.

accident: something unintended that happens. Keep double c near the start: a-c-c-i-d-e-n-t. Read: 'Spilling the water was an accident.'

accidentally: by accident rather than on purpose. Use the family accident, accidental, accidentally; keep double c and double l. Read: 'I accidentally knocked the empty box over.'

actual: real rather than imagined or estimated. Remember the middle letters t-u in actual. Read: 'The actual length was shorter than our estimate.'

actually: really, or in fact. Keep actual and add ly; the two l letters meet in actually. Read: 'The small box was actually the heavier one.'

address: details saying where a place is. Address has double d and double s. Read: 'We wrote an invented address on the pretend envelope.'

answer: a reply or solution. Keep the w even though it is not usually heard in answer. Read: 'My answer explained why the shadow changed.'

appear: to come into view. Appear has double p and ends ear. Read: 'A rainbow began to appear above the hill.'

arrive: to reach a place. Arrive has double r and a final e. Read: 'We will arrive before the play begins.'

2 · Worked example

Study accident. I say what it means: something unintended that happens. I notice the spelling: Keep double c near the start: a-c-c-i-d-e-n-t. I cover the model, write the word, then compare every letter. If a letter is wrong, I correct that part and try again later, rather than copying it many times without thinking.

3 · Your turn

Cover the word list. Write the word meaning 'by accident rather than on purpose'. Uncover and check it. Now write a different sentence using accidentally; explain to an adult how your sentence shows its meaning.

4 · Apply your learning

Choose two words you found difficult. Ask an adult to read the model sentences aloud, discuss unfamiliar meanings, then dictate one sentence without showing it. Check the spelling and punctuation together. Revisit those words tomorrow and later in the week; record the words you still need to practise on paper or the pad.