Bartley C of E Junior School

In year 5, we aim to ensure all children begin to know how to spell the common exception words from Year 5 and 6.  For those children who have not secured all of the Year 3 and 4 (or Year 1 and 2) common exception words, these will form part of their focus during the year. The common exception word lists for Year 3 & 4 and Year 5 & 6 are available by clicking the links below.  Your child may bring a list home with a selection of words from these lists to learn each week, if this is needed.  

Year 3 & 4 Common Exception Words checklist

Year 5 & 6 Common Exception Words checklist

To help children learn their spellings, there are a number of strategies that can be used.  Have a look at these spelling strategies posters, below, for ideas.

Additionally, where children are taking part in a Little Wandle phonics group, click the link below to access additional resources to support word reading and spelling. Here, you will find videos to aid with pronunciation and lists of the different sounds taught in each phase. 

Little Wandle Parents' Area

Year 5 Spelling Coverage by Half Term

Autumn 1

We have explored the following:

• revision of commonly used and misspelt words from Y2 to Y4;
• revision of plurals;
• rules for adding suffixes beginning with consonant letters: -ment, -ness, -ful, -less and -ly;

•  rules for applying suffixes beginning with vowel letters: -ed, -ing, -er, -est and -y.

Autumn 2

During this half term, we explored:

• word families created from a single root word;
• adding the suffix -ing to root words with stressed and unstressed syllables;
• double consonants following a short vowel sound;
• how to spell words with the soft c from the Year 5/6 spelling list;

•  how to spell words with the /i:/ sound, spelt ei after c.

Spring 1

This half term, we focused on the following:

• rules for adding the -el and -le suffixes;
• the -tial, -cial, -tially and -cially suffixes;
• revision of words from the Year 3 and 4 statutory word list;
• the -able, -ible, -ably and -ibly suffixes.  

Spring 2

This half term, we moved on to:

• rules for adding the -cious and -tious suffixes;
• the -ent, -ence and -ency suffixes;
• the -ant, -ance and -ancy suffixes;
• prefixes and suffixes in words on the statutory spelling list for Year 5 and 6;
• words with silent consonant letters.

Summer 1

New learning for this half term included:

• words with the letter string -ough;
• unstressed vowels (the /schwa/ sound) in words on the statutory spelling list for Year 5 and 6;
• apostrophes for contraction and possession;
• exploring homophones and near homophones;
• the conventions for hyphenating words.

Summer 2

In our final half term, we will be revisiting some of the trickier spelling rules already covered as well as the following:

• exploring word families from root words;
• revision of word classes.

Alongside these spelling words, the children will also be required to learn the statutory spelling words for Year 5 and 6pupils. We will be looking at these throughout the year (see link on the left of this page).  Please note that, where appropriate, many of these will be covered where they fit the rules explored each half term.