Words Their Way Begins Today
ABOUT WORDS THEIR WAY
Words Their Way is a new approach
to teaching spelling that allows students to learn words at their individual
level of instruction and teaches them how words work. Students will take a
diagnostic spelling assessment (for which they do not study) to determine their
spelling level at the beginning, middle, and end of the year. After looking at
what students know about spelling, we have put them into spelling groups at
their developmental levels. Each group will have a different spelling word
sort.
By studying these word sorts,
students will learn to sort, compare and contrast word features in each
category, make discoveries, become more fluent readers, and increase their
vocabulary through word meanings. Students move through weekly word study
patterns by doing in class activities, homework and ending the week with a word
sort test on Fridays.
WHAT IS A WORD STUDY?
Word study is a study of words
features. Students lists will be on a word study PATTERN (example – the study
of the long “u” sound in “u_e”, “ew”, or “ue” or how adding the suffix “-ful”
or “-less” changes a word’s meaning). The quiz on Fridays will be on the
pattern from that week using some of their words from each student’s sort and
some additional words that were not on their sort, but fit the pattern they
were studying.
WHY A "WORD STUDY" INSTEAD OF A
"TRADITIONAL" SPELLING PROGRAM?
Research studies 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, many students who received 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 a child is a good
speller. It may just mean they are good at memorizing words for a test. Using
the Words Their Way word study program also allows us to work at each student’s
individual level rather than using a “one size fits all” spelling list.
WHAT DOES THE HOMEWORK LOOK LIKE?
Homework will consist of spelling
sorts and other activities Monday through Thursday. Students will receive new
sorts every Monday. Tests will be on Friday. It is highly encouraged to get a
composition notebook to use as your Words Their Way notebook. A sample homework
routine and activity suggestions will be sent home. Please don’t lose this
information as it will be only sent home with the initial word sort. Homework
activities are a personal choice and will not need to be turned in.
Words Their Way Homework Activities
Speed Sorts: Sort your words and time yourself. Re-sort
and time again to see if you can beat your best time.
Brainstorm: Sort again and write your sort down. Add
other words (not from your weekly list, but words you can think of, or from a
dictionary, book, magazine, etc) that fit in the sort.
Examples: WH Words
which, when, who, where Add in: whether, whopping
Word-O: Take a word from your sorting list and make a new word by
changing one letter.
Examples:
tub à cub take
à cake why
à who
Open Sort: Sort your words in a new and different way.
Write down your new headings and sorts.
Example:
First sort in alphabetical order and then by the number of syllables.
Word Hunt: Look for new words that fit into sorting
categories from books or stories you are reading. Write the title and author of
the book or story with your sort.
Blind Sort: Two to three people required, so try with
mom or dad or a sibling! The goal is to get the most cards. With your
partner(s) take turns being the Caller
and the Writer. The Caller says each word aloud without
letting the other person see the word. The Writer
writes the word in his/her notebook. The Writer
keeps the card of any word he/she spells correctly. If the spelling is not
correct the Caller keeps the card.
The person with the most cards at the end of the round wins.
Write Sentences: Write sentences using words from your sort.
Please limit each sentence to a maximum of 1 or 2 WTW words. Your sentences
must prove that you understand what the WTW word means. (Don’t forget proper
sentence structure: capitalizations, spaces between words, punctuation)
Picture Dictionary: When you find an interesting or exciting new
word use an index card to create an illustrated dictionary for yourself. Write
the word and its part of speech. Then write a definition of the word and a
sentence that uses the word correctly. On the back, draw a picture to
illustrate the sentence. Collect all your cards to make your own picture
dictionary.
Videos/Song: Search youtube for songs and videos that
help teach the particular skill you are working on for the week.
Writing Sort: Place the words in the correct category and
then spell them correctly. Don’t just spell them once, try two .. three.. or
four times!
Search online for different Words Their Way
& Spelling activities. Create your own! Share J
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