• Use a simple dictionary to locate words.
• Alphabetize to second letter.

Activity

• As a time filler (just before recess, lunch, etc.) play "Little Blue Says".
  
  Reinforce dictionary skills by having the children locate specific sea words in their individual dictionary. As you hold up the picture of Little Blue say :
  
  "Little Blue says who can find _________ in the dictionary first?"
  
  
• The child who finds the word first takes a turn as Little Blue.
  
  
• If the children do not have individual dictionaries, adapt the game to become a small group activity.

.

Assessment Tips from Old Tom the Turtle

• Observe and note behaviours that indicate students’ growth in dictionary skills, e.g., strategies they use to locate a word, increasing speed at locating words.

• Monitor how individual students use the dictionary to locate conventional spellings.