During Word Study, students focus on developing their ability to identify letter sounds and letter relationships allowing them to further their development in the writing and spelling process. For 30 minutes, three times weekly, students will spend time focusing on word study. Using the developmentally driven curriculum, Words Their Way students will use pictures and word sorts to study letter sounds and word families. Words Their Way uses an integrated way to teach phonics, vocabulary, and spelling. Each weekly spelling sort will help improve literacy skills, writing and spelling fluency. Throughout the week, students will work with their weekly spelling sort by sorting the picture, letter, or word cards, going on letter or word hunts through our classroom library or on our classroom walls, playing games, trying to beat the clock, creating letter or word collages with pictures, and adding additional words to their current sort. Students should also practice their weekly sort nightly at home.
At the start of the year, and three other times throughout the year, students are assessed to help with the placement and creation of spelling groups. These quarterly spelling inventories ask students to spell words that represent a variety of spelling features or patterns at increasing levels of difficulty. The words in the spelling inventories assess students' knowledge of key spelling features that relate to different spelling stages. Like guided reading groups, the spelling inventories help differentiate and customize each child's word study education. Students are placed into developmentally appropriate word study groups based on their progress on the spelling inventory. These developmentally appropriate groups provide catered word study instruction at their personal level.
Below you will find our Word Study Routines document where you can learn more about our Word Study time at school and for more information about how you can establish an effective nightly spelling routine at home.
At the start of the year, and three other times throughout the year, students are assessed to help with the placement and creation of spelling groups. These quarterly spelling inventories ask students to spell words that represent a variety of spelling features or patterns at increasing levels of difficulty. The words in the spelling inventories assess students' knowledge of key spelling features that relate to different spelling stages. Like guided reading groups, the spelling inventories help differentiate and customize each child's word study education. Students are placed into developmentally appropriate word study groups based on their progress on the spelling inventory. These developmentally appropriate groups provide catered word study instruction at their personal level.
Below you will find our Word Study Routines document where you can learn more about our Word Study time at school and for more information about how you can establish an effective nightly spelling routine at home.