Grade 2 — Spelling List 18: Word List, Phonics Tips, and Assessments

Grade 2 Spelling List 18: 20 Must-Know Words with WorksheetsSpelling List 18 for second graders builds on earlier phonics and sight-word practice by introducing a mix of high-frequency words, simple decodable words, and a few that require pattern awareness (such as vowel teams or consonant blends). This article provides the word list, teaching tips, ready-to-use worksheet ideas, assessment suggestions, and extension activities to help students master these words with confidence.

The 20 Words (List 18)

1. along
2. always
3. around
4. because
5. before
6. begin
7. better
8. bring
9. carry
10. clean
11. cover
12. cry
13. drink
14. eight
15. enough
16. fall
17. feet
18. found
19. full
20. garden

Why these words?

• Several are high-frequency or sight words (always, because, before, enough) that students will encounter often in reading and writing.
• A few reinforce common phonics patterns: long vowel teams (eight), consonant blends (bring), doubled consonants (better, fall), and irregular spellings (feet, found).
• The list mixes decodable items with irregular or less predictable words to build both phonics and memorization skills.

Teaching Tips for Grade 2

• Start with a quick review of relevant phonics patterns (e.g., vowel teams, double consonants) before introducing the list.
• Present words in small chunks (4–6 at a time) across several days rather than all at once.
• Use multisensory methods: have students trace words in sand, skywrite with fingers, or build words with letter tiles.
• Emphasize meaning as well as spelling: use each word in a short, child-friendly sentence and ask students to do the same.
• Teach common confusions explicitly (e.g., full vs. fall; bring vs. carry as synonyms with different spellings).

Ready-to-Use Worksheet Ideas

Below are worksheet templates and instructions you can copy and adapt. Each worksheet type targets different skills: recognition, spelling production, phonics patterns, and application in context.

1. Word Match (Recognition)

   • Left column: scrambled words (e.g., “lngaol” for along). Right column: correct words in a mixed order. Students draw lines to match.

2. Fill-in-the-Blank Sentences (Context)

   • Ten short sentences with blanks for the target words. Example: “I watered the _____ this morning.” (garden)

3. Word Sort (Phonics/Pattern Awareness)

   • Provide the 20 words and headings such as “double consonant,” “vowel team/irregular,” “consonant blend,” and “other.” Students sort words under headings.

4. Trace, Write, Use (Handwriting + Application)

   • For each word: trace once, write independently once, then write a sentence using the word.

5. Missing Letters (Decoding)

   • Remove 1–2 letters in each word (e.g., _l_ng for along). Students fill in missing letters.

6. Word Search (Recognition & Fun)

   • Create a simple grid with the 20 words placed horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Include a word list to find.

7. Spelling Test Paper (Assessment)

   • Provide numbered blank lines and dictate each word in a sentence. Use as a weekly quiz.

8. Sentence Scramble (Grammar + Spelling)

   • Provide jumbled sentences where one target word is missing; students unscramble and insert the correct word.

Sample Worksheets (text you can paste into a document)

Word Match (10 items):

• scrambled: lngaol, syawla, dnuora, ecsaueb, eforbe, gineb, rebbte, nrgib, yarcr, neacl
• correct list (mixed): garden, carry, bring, always, clean, because, better, around, begin, along

Fill-in-the-Blank (10 sentences):

1. I put the toys _____ the box. (inside/cover) — acceptable answer: cover
2. We walked _____ the park to see the flowers. (to be filled with: along/around) — expected: around
3. I will _____ my homework before dinner. (begin)
4. She cried because she was sad, she began to _____. (cry)
5. There are two _____ on my cat’s bed. (feet)
6. Pour the juice — do not _____ it on the table. (spill — alternate: drink for “I will drink”)
7. We planted a tree in the _____. (garden)
8. The cup is _____ of milk. (full)
9. He needs to _____ his books to school. (bring/carry)
10. She counted to _____. (eight)

Trace, Write, Use (first 6 words example):
Trace: along — along
Write: _______
Use in a sentence: ___________________________

Missing Letters (5 items sample):

1. _b_g_n (begin)
2. be_au_e (because)
3. fo__ (fall)
4. igh (eight)
5. f__l (full)

Assessment Suggestions

• Weekly quick-check: give a 5-word mini-quiz drawn from the list (dictated in a sentence).
• End-of-week cumulative test: include all 20 words with mixed items: write, choose correct spelling, and use in a sentence.
• Error analysis: for any misspelled words, note whether errors are phonetic, omission, or letter-order mistakes and reteach the pattern.

Games and Activities to Reinforce Learning

• Spelling Relay: teams race to place letter cards in correct order on a board.
• Sight-Word Bingo: create bingo cards using the 20 words.
• Flashcard Hot Seat: one student describes meaning while partner spells.
• Word Detective: students find words from the list in a short reading passage and highlight them.

Differentiation Ideas

• For students who need support: reduce the list to 8–10 words, focus on multisensory practice, and allow word banks on writing tasks.
• For advanced students: ask for synonyms/antonyms (e.g., full → empty), write longer sentences or short paragraphs using 8–10 target words, or create short stories that include at least 5 words from the list.

Tips for Parents

• Practice a little every day — 5–10 minutes is more effective than one long session.
• Read a short book together and pause to spot any List 18 words.
• Use everyday moments for practice: grocery lists, labels, or signs (e.g., “Please cover the food”).

Example week plan (simple)

• Monday: introduce words 1–6, trace & write, quick word sort.
• Tuesday: introduce words 7–12, fill-in-the-blank sentences, partner practice.
• Wednesday: introduce words 13–20, missing letters + games.
• Thursday: mixed practice (word search, sentence scramble).
• Friday: spelling test and a short writing task using 5 words.

These resources and strategies should give teachers and parents a clear path to help Grade 2 students learn and retain Spelling List 18. If you’d like, I can generate printable worksheet PDFs, a word-search grid, or a 20-item spelling test you can download.