Is there a way to import multiple lists at a time to my account?

You can import multiple lists at a time, provided that they have been grouped. If this is the case, you can import an entire group.

I hope this helps.

Nancy
VocabularySpellingCity Support

I have posted my lists for the fourth edition. I am using the Red and Yellow Sort books, so I have it listed as the color book it came from, followed by the sort number. I don't include the oddballs on my spelling lists. I'm teaching second this year, and will be in third next year, so I'll probably add the green book next.

Our district recommends we use Words Their Way for having the kids practice the spelling features at their individual stages, but the teachers at my school don't use it to give spelling tests so I have a two-fold question. Is the program beneficial if we're not testing the kids often enough to have them practicing spelling features at the right level? And second, how do teachers give weekly spelling tests if the students don't have access to a computer to take individualized tests?

I've used WTW for the past 3 years and I find it very beneficial but I test the students at the end of the week on the sounds they have practiced. My question to you is, why would you have them practice the word sounds but not test them on the sounds they've practiced? I use WTW just like I do my guided reading or strategy groups. Each group slowly moves through their word lists at their own pace (as a group). The first year I did the program I didn't test them but I felt I didn't know if they were really grasping the sounds, I send home the words with the students on Mondays, if they want to practice at home they are welcome to but we do enough work with the words at school, the kids do not need to. The list going home is more for the parents than for the kids.

I rotate through the list, for example I will have the 4 spelling lists (10 words only and they are random words from the 21 words their given to sort with). The groups are color coded white (A), blue (B), green (C) and yellow (D). I train the kids at the beginning of the year to be patient and wait while I do the test. It goes like this, group A number 1 is ...., group B number 1 is ...., group C number 1 is ...., group D number 1 is..., group A number 2 is ... etc. It takes about 20 minutes. I go slow enough that they hear the word but the others don't get too bored. I collect each groups word list all at the same time and then mark.

I only have two computers so I can't have the students taking tests on them. Another teacher in our school decided to take some of her guided reading time at the end of the week and test each group. I don't like taking time away from guided reading so I do my test in the 20 minutes just before lunch. That way I can mark the tests and hand them back to the students.

Hope this helps.
April Brown

As the school's reading specialist, I give the Spelling Inventory so that I can focus instruction at the appropriate level for the students I work with; however, the teachers do nothing with the data themselves except record it for showing growth at the end of the year. I've trained them on how to use WTW, but have not discussed giving spelling tests because the district had different expectations for spelling last year (to use MacMillan McGraw Hill or MMH Treasures spelling words). Also, I wasn't sure how the teachers would be able to give, not four, but SIX spelling lists/tests. This year one first grade teacher has 6 groups, with the range from beginning consonants to long vowel sounds and everything in-between. I don't think it's feasible for her to give 60 words in one session and not have the kids bored to tears. One idea I have is for her to give biweekly tests. For example, groups 1-3 test this week and groups 4-6 test the following week. That is, if the district supports them giving WTW spelling tests. They might allow it if those words are in addition to the MMH spelling words. I also think there should be some accountability for the spelling patterns/features in their writing, but I'll think about that tomorrow. :)