Spotlight Series

The Spotlight series provides focused teacher support in areas that have been proven to benefit from extra attention – in mainstream as well as special needs applications.

In three sections: Spotlight on Blends, Spotlight on Suffixes and Spotlight on Words, the series uses clearly laid out and structured photocopiable worksheets to provide activities designed to improve phonological and language awareness, spelling skills, reading accuracy, grammar and vocabulary.

The workbooks are intended to be used from age 7-14, and are especially useful in differentiated teaching delivery. The uncluttered and non-age-related worksheet design also makes the Spotlight series an ideal teaching resource for Special Needs and many Adult Literacy or ESOL applications.

By using a mixture of word games and puzzles, the Spotlight series brings an element of fun and play to the learning process which students find enjoyable and engaging as well as challenging.

Spotlight on Blends 1

Phonic activities on initial consonant blends to improve spelling skills, reading accuracy and phonological awareness.

Spotlight on Blends Book 1 provides material to encourage systematic practice with blends at the beginning of words.

The tasks are varied, although the main emphasis is on developing phonological awareness by means of sound blending, rhyming and careful contrasting of blends which are similar in sound. Research shows that training in such skills leads to improved reading accuracy and spelling.

Often the tasks are embedded in a meaningful linguistic context, and the various sentence-completion exercises, vocabulary quizzes and anagram puzzles aim to extend vocabulary and enhance comprehension and thinking skills. The worksheets thus have a wide application in terms of developing language skills and are designed to cater for different levels of skill and individual need.

In Book 1 - Initial Consonant Blends, the Level 1 worksheets are suitable for pupils in the early stages of a structured literacy propramme, while the Level 2 worksheets will provide a challenge for older secondary aged students or even adults.

Spotlight on Blends 2

Phonic activities on end consonant blends to improve spelling skills, reading accuracy and phonological awareness.

Spotlight on Blends Book 2 provides material to encourage systematic practice with blends at the end of words.

The tasks are varied, although the main emphasis is on developing phonological awareness by means of sound blending, rhyming and careful contrasting of blends which are similar in sound. Research shows that training in such skills leads to improved reading accuracy and spelling.

Often the tasks are embedded in a meaningful linguistic context, and the various sentence-completion exercises, vocabulary quizzes and anagram puzzles aim to extend vocabulary and enhance comprehension and thinking skills. The worksheets thus have a wide application in terms of developing language skills and are designed to cater for different levels of skill and individual need.

Spotlight on Suffix 1

Common Suffixes and Suffixing Rules Years 1 to 5 and Special Needs

The 75 worksheets in Spotlight on Suffixes Book 1 introduce the most common suffixes in English in a systematic manner, focusing on both the grammatical function of the suffix and the spelling rules concerning the joining of suffixes to base words. Suffixes which can be pronounced differently according to context such as the '-ed' past tense verb ending are highlighted for special practice.

The more common suffixes have worksheets at two levels of difficulty allowing for differentiated work within mixed ability classrooms. Spelling skills are thus very much linked to grammatical awareness and, by completing the worksheets, students will also extend their vocabulary and knowledge of word derivations.

Spotlight on Suffix 2

Suffix Recognition and Use, Spelling Rules, Grammar and Vocabulary Years 4 to 6 and Key Stage 3

Spotlight on Suffixes Book 2, with over 80 worksheets, extends the work in Book 1 on common suffixes and suffixing rules. The book is in two parts, Part 1 dealing with basic suffix recognition and also giving systematic coverage of the spelling rules by which suffixes are joined to base words. This Part provides extensive practice of the 'double', 'drop -e', and 'change y to i' rules. Part 2 focuses on individual verb, noun and adjective suffixes such as '-ate', '-ify', '-ity', '-ment', '-ous', '-ible', and others.

The more common suffixes have worksheets at two levels of difficulty allowing for differentiated work within mixed ability classrooms. Spelling skills are thus very much linked to grammatical awareness and, by completing the worksheets, students will also extend their vocabulary and knowledge of word derivations.

Spotlight on Words

This is a collection of 30 wordsearch puzzles and fill-in-the-blank activities designed to help in the development of spelling skills. Each puzzle is based on a specific vowel or sound combination, so the book can be used by teachers as part of a structured approach to spelling and to concentrate learning activity where it is needed most.

The skills developed by Spotlight on Words Book 1 include:

• visual discrimination through searching for hidden words.
• alphabetic sequencing practice by listing the words found.
• following contextual clues through fill-in-the-blank exercises.
• use of a process of elimination by completing the more difficult blanks.
• use of the connection between spelling and meaning.
• development of the ability to spot capital letters.
• understanding word segmentation and syllable blending.

Spotlight on Words 2

Phonic wordsearch puzzles and activities

This collection of 40 wordsearch puzzles and fill-in-the-blank activities is designed to help in the development of spelling skills. Each puzzle is based on a specific vowel or sound combination, so the book can be used by teachers as part of a structured approach to spelling and to concentrate learning activity where it is needed most.

The skills developed by Spotlight on Words Book 2 include:

• visual discrimination through searching for hidden words.
• alphabetic sequencing practice by listing the words found.
• following contextual clues through fill-in-the-blank exercises.
• use of a process of elimination by completing the more difficult blanks.
• use of the connection between spelling and meaning.
• development of the ability to spot capital letters.
• understanding word segmentation and syllable blending.