If you look at all three of your child's test, you will see either Sept., Nov., or May in the top right corner and see what spelling stage he/she is in right under that. Take a look at all three. For most students, you can see the gains they have made during the year as they progress from left to right along the spelling stages. Many kids moved up three stages! If your child didn't move much or didn't move at all, please make sure he/she reads, reads, and reads. That will help students' spelling tremendously!
I use the paper below to check over each child's paper. The check marks mean they got that part of the word correct. Once they miss two or more in one column, that means that is the spelling patterns they need help with. It begins with initial and final consonants sounds, goes to short and long vowels, digraphs (sh, wh, ch), blends (mp, fl, tr, etc.) and then on to inflected endings, syllable junctures, and finally suffixes and bases or roots. This paper gives me so much information about what students know and what would be best to focus on. If your child's weekly words seem easy, it may mean he/she is memorizing the words instead of understanding the spelling pattern. Your child needs to be able to transfer their knowledge of spelling patterns to their written work, not just on weekly tests. This inventory shows me what patterns your child has internalized and which ones are still a struggle.
Students are then grouped with other students who are weak in the same spelling patterns.
I am sending these home because I no longer need them, and instead of throwing them away, I thought parents may like to take a look. Enjoy! And let me know if you have any questions.