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| Words Their Way ~ Word Study |
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The Word Study approach to spelling allows for students to learn words at their individual level of instruction and teaches students how words work. We will be calling this portion of our day Word Study.
What is Word Study?
Word study is just what it sounds like – a study of words. Students are assessed through out the year and place into small groups based on their current spelling ability. Students move through weekly word study patterns and activities during the week with a test on Fridays. Students lists will be on a word study PATTERN (example – all long a words, words with CH, CVCe words, or vowels in multisyllable words). The quiz will be on the word PATTERN they have been studying, NOT necessarily on that set list of words.
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In School Practice
(2 week cycle)
Monday ~
Instruction & sort
with teacher
Tuesday ~
Speed Sort
Wednesday ~
Speed Sort & Write
Thursday~
No Peek Sort
Tuesday~
Write 3-5 Sentences
Wednesday~
Partner Practice Test
Thursday ~
Glue & Word Hunt
Friday ~
Word Study Test |
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Why Word Study instead of traditional spelling?
Research studies clearly indicate that memorization of lists of "spelling words" does not promote the development of spelling skills. In the past when we’ve used this traditional approach of "everyone gets the same weekly list and test on Friday", many students who got a 100% on their spelling test could not spell most of the words in their writing! Memorizing a list of words and getting 100% on weekly tests does not necessarily mean your child is a good speller. It may just mean they are good at memorizing words for a test. |
Word Study Classwork:
Word Sort Practice
(We practice sorting our words with our group after the pattern is introduced each week)
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Sort and Write
(We sort our words and write them
in
our word study journal)
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No Peek Sort
(A friend says our words and we
write them in the correct columns)
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Word Hunt
(We search in books or around our room to
find
words that follow the pattern)
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Sort and Glue
(We sort our words and glue them
in
our word study journal)
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Word Games
(Games are created from our WTW book
and ideas found on Carl's Corner)
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Word Study Homework:
Spelling homework will consist of student sorts and optional activities, however spelling homework is not formally assigned. Each student should practice and study their pattern word sort each week. Students will practice their sorts in school each day but need the reinforcement of practicing their sorts at home to learn and be able to use the patterns.
For each word study I will attach a letter providing an answer key and possible activities for your child to practice his or her sort. The section below lists the recommended activities:
Cut out your word study cards. Use your cards to complete a minimum of one activity below. Keep your cards and this sheet at home to practice the pattern sort to prepare for the spelling assessment.
- Sort the Words- Your child should read each word aloud during this activity. Ask your child to explain to you why the words are sorted in a particular way. Ask your child to sort them a second time as fast as possible.
- No Peeking Sort- Lay down a word from each category as a header and then read the rest of the words aloud to your child. Your child must indicate where the word goes without seeing the word. Lay it down and let your child move it if he or she is wrong. Repeat if your child makes more than one error.
- Word Hunt- Assist your child in doing a word hunt, looking for words in a familiar book that have the same sound, pattern or both. Try to find 2 or 3 for each category.
- Blind Writing Sort- As you call the words in a random order your child should write them into the sorting categories. Call out any words your child misspells a second or even third time.
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Word Study Approach based on the books:
Words Their Way by Donald Bear
Word Journeys by Kathy Ganske |
For more information and resources about Words Their Way please visit:
Word Study Program Information
What are Word Families?
Word Study: A New Approach to Teaching Spelling
Word Study Stages & Inventories
Resources:
Henderson Education Software
Carl's Corner
Word Study Links |
| Special Thanks to Mrs. Amy Keane for all her help getting our program started! |
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