Word study: island to mention

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.

island: land surrounded by water. Keep s in island even though it is not usually heard. Read: 'The map showed a small island in the lake.'

knowledge: facts or understanding you have learnt. Knowledge starts kn and ends ledge; the k is not usually heard. Read: 'Reading and testing helped us improve our knowledge.'

learn: to gain knowledge or a skill. Learn has ear in the middle. Read: 'We learn a new method by practising and checking it.'

length: how long something is. Length ends gth; retain both consonant letters before h. Read: 'The ribbon's length was thirty centimetres.'

library: a place with books and other resources to read or borrow. Library has two r letters; say the parts slowly to notice both. Read: 'We borrowed a poetry book from the library.'

material: a substance used to make something. Material ends ial, not iel. Read: 'We chose a flexible material for the cover.'

medicine: a substance used to treat illness. Medicine has c for the s sound; compare the related word medical. Read: 'The adult kept the medicine in a secure cupboard.'

mention: to speak or write briefly about. Mention ends tion, not shun; remember the complete spelling m-e-n-t-i-o-n. Read: 'Remember to mention the date in your report.'

2 · Worked example

Study island. I say what it means: land surrounded by water. I notice the spelling: Keep s in island even though it is not usually heard. 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 'facts or understanding you have learnt'. Uncover and check it. Now write a different sentence using knowledge; 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.