Year 1 Spelling: Common Words and Rules

In Year 1, children learn to spell using their phonics knowledge -- segmenting words into sounds and choosing the correct letters. They also learn the Year 1 common exception words (sometimes called tricky words or sight words) that cannot be spelled phonetically, such as "the", "said", "was", "one" and "are".

Children practise adding common suffixes: -s, -es, -ing, -ed, -er, -est, and the prefix un-. They learn basic spelling rules such as adding -s to make plurals, changing -y to -ies, and doubling consonants before -ing and -ed.

They also learn to spell the days of the week and use basic punctuation (capital letters, full stops, question marks, exclamation marks) in their writing.

Spelling confidence directly affects writing confidence. Children who struggle to spell often write less, use simpler words, and find writing tasks stressful. Secure spelling frees children to focus on the content and creativity of their writing.

The Year 1 common exception words appear constantly in reading and writing. Learning to spell them automatically (without having to think about each letter) is essential for fluent writing.

1. 1

   Practise the Year 1 common exception words little and often -- aim for 3-5 words per week.

2. 2

   Use the 'look, cover, write, check' method: look at the word, cover it, write it, then check.

3. 3

   Encourage phonetic spelling attempts -- 'sed' for 'said' shows good phonics application even though it's wrong.

4. 4

   Play word games: hangman, word searches, or magnetic letters on the fridge.

5. 5

   Practise spelling in context -- write sentences using the week's spelling words.

6. 6

   Don't correct every spelling in creative writing. Focus on target words and celebrate effort.