Words Their Way
In our class, we use the Words Their Way program to enhance spelling and word knowledge. Words Their Way is phonics, spelling, and vocabulary instruction through daily word study. This program will provide skill instruction that will cover spelling patterns and focus on examining and manipulating words, not memorizing them. Students will be thinking more critically about words and work on transferring their skills to reading and writing. Words Their Way will focus on teaching students how to spell, decode new words, and to improve word recognition speed in general. To accomplish this goal, teachers will teach students how to examine words to learn the regularities and irregularities (words that don’t fit a pattern) that exist in the spelling system. The simple process of sorting words into categories is the heart of the word study program. When students sort words, they are engaged in the active process of searching, comparing, contrasting, and analyzing to determine patterns in words. Word sorts help students organize what they know about words and to form generalizations that they can then apply to new words they encounter in their reading.
For a more detailed look at Words Their Way, please read this brochure and/or this presentation.
For a more detailed look at Words Their Way, please read this brochure and/or this presentation.
Homework
Monday
Students will sort the words into categories (just like we do at school). You should read the words 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. You may want to time them. This is the speed sort.
Students will sort the words into categories (just like we do at school). You should read the words 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. You may want to time them. This is the speed sort.
Tuesday
Do a blind sort with your child. Lay down a word from each category as a header.
The video of the blind sort is found below.
Do a blind sort with your child. Lay down a word from each category as a header.
The video of the blind sort is found below.
Wednesday
Assist your child in doing a word hunt, looking in a book they have already read for words that have the same sound, pattern, or both. Try to find two or three for each category.
Assist your child in doing a word hunt, looking in a book they have already read for words that have the same sound, pattern, or both. Try to find two or three for each category.
Thursday
Do a writing sort to prepare for the Friday test. As you call out the words in random order, your child should write them in categories. Call out any words your child misspells a second or third time.
Do a writing sort to prepare for the Friday test. As you call out the words in random order, your child should write them in categories. Call out any words your child misspells a second or third time.