ATTACK LESSON INSTRUCTION NOTES

Teacher to: – print one copy of lesson for own use
                             photocopy one homework sheet for each pupil

1. Teacher to collect homework sheets and check that they have been completed
and signed appropriately

2. Teacher to give one clean sheet of file paper to each pupil.

3. Pupils to copy the date from the blackboard. e.g. Monday 4th. July 2004

4. Teacher to read the ‘irregular’ words aloud so that pupils can write them down across the page. In turn, each pupil reads aloud and then spells one word, using the letter names, while the teacher writes it on the blackboard. Pupils to tick each correct word and put a single line through each incorrect word. No corrections at this point and no Xs allowed. The new irregular word (if there is one) is now written on the board for the pupils to copy onto their paper. The board to be cleaned.

5. Teacher to test the 10 ‘regular’ words taught in the last lesson in the same way. The blackboard should now be cleaned.

6. Teacher to introduce the name and sound of the new letter or letter string.

7. Teacher to build up the new ‘regular’ words using the columns of letters and letter
strings given. These columns should not be put on the blackboard before the lesson but should be built up with the pupils. Letter names and sounds should be practised at this point and words built up verbally. Next the teacher asks each pupil, in turn, to spell a word aloud while he/she writes it on the board for everyone to copy down. When all the words have been spelt aloud and copied down, the board should be cleaned. Each pupil then reads one word from their own work and these are rewritten on the board.

8. Teacher to dictate the sentence and repeat it as often as needed. It should not be broken down into short phrases unless absolutely necessary. When all the pupils
have written the sentence, one of them should read it aloud. While the teacher is writing it on the board a second pupil should tell him/her how to punctuate it. Pupils to check their own work and tick if completely correct.

9. Teacher to give out homework sheets. Pupils must be told that the words in the second column have been broken up to help them phrase their spelling. They need not break them up when writing them out but they can if it helps. It also helps if they join just the letter strings. Pupils should be taught the different ways of learning spellings depending on their individual learning style. Any two errors from the lesson can be entered on the sheet.

10. Pupils to file lesson. Files should be kept in the classroom and not taken home.

IMPORTANT – PUPILS SHOULD ALWAYS MARK THEIR OWN WORK – IF, AT FIRST, THEY MAKE CRAFTY CORRECTIONS – IGNORE IT – IT DOESN’T MATTER AS THEY ARE NOT COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER – NEVER CHECK THE NUMBER OF CORRECT SPELLINGS ALOUD IN CLASS – EACH PUPILS WORK IS PRIVATE – WITHOUT COMPETITION YOU MAY WELL BE SURPRISED AT THE RESULTS YOU HELP THEM TO ACHIEVE.