Latest blog posts
Reset the Spelling Ability Test
The final week of the first term is the perfect point to reset the ability test. Your students will be provided with an updated pathway for the start of the new term and you will have a data point to help you map their progress. Compare each student’s end-of-term Spellzone Score to their start-of-term one to see how much they have improved.
Look at your class results
As well as exploring the results section for each student, you can look at and download the results for your class as a whole. Click on the class name and then scroll to the results section.
You may wish to look at the tasks, activity, and logins ...
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Words ending in ssor and rror
In this month’s spelling pattern word list, we’re looking at words ending in 'ssor' and 'rror'.
After the letters 'ss' and 'rr', many words use 'or' to spell the weak vowel ending.
Learn about 'ssor' and 'rror' word endings in Unit 25 and practise spelling them in this word list.
Winter Words
Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? Whether or not the snow sticks to the ground this year, here in the UK we are sure to get plenty of wind and rain. From blizzard, to flurries, to icicle; this list will teach you how to spell a variety cold-...
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Every Christmas Eve, Santa Claus and his reindeer deliver presents to children all over the world.
The first time a reindeer appeared in a Christmas story was in the children’s poem Old SanteClaus with Much Delight which was published in New York in 1821 and featured an illustration of a sleigh being pulled by a reindeer. Today, Christmas stories usually feature nine reindeer: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Dunder/Donner, Blixem/Blitzen, and Rudolph.
Although most of us recognise Rudolph from the popular song, he first appeared in a booklet by Robert L. May in 1939. The booklet was distributed by a Chicago-based retailer who bought and gave away colourin...
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What does each word mean?
Dear is a term of endearment used to refer to a beloved person or to show affection to someone.
Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word.
Here is dear used in some example sentences:
‘Pass the salt, dear,’ said Timothy to his daughter.
Her late aunt was very dear to her.
A dear friend recommended this restaurant to me.
Click here to find the Spellzone vocabulary lists related to the word dear.
Deer are a type of four-legged hoofed animal, the males of which are known for their branchy antlers.
Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word.
Here is deer used in an example se...
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What does each word mean?
The word rain is used as both a noun (to describe water that falls in drops from the vapour condensed in the atmosphere) and as a verb (to describe the act of water droplets falling from the sky).
Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word.
Here is rain used in some example sentences:
The rain was heavy in the morning but slowed to a light drizzle by lunchtime.
It rained heavily in the morning but at lunchtime the sun came out.
The soldier dodged the bullets raining down on him and searched for cover.
Click here to find the Spellzone vocabulary lists related to the word rain.
As a noun, reign refers to the period d...
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Here are our favourite Christmas posts from over the years:
Three Popular Christmas Characters
In this article we look at how and when the characters Rudolph, Scrooge, and the Grinch entered popular culture. Both ‘Scrooge’ and ‘Grinch’ are now used as words to describe people who share the same qualities as the famous characters, and you can read about other words that derive from the names of people or characters here.
What the Dickens?
Christmas isn’t Christmas without a little Charles Dickens. If our Christmas Characters post wasn’t detailed enough for your taste, in this article we take a look at words and expressions from Dickens’s ...
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