Our Study of Words

We officially began word study aka spelling. Last week all Techkids used a common spelling list (long and short o) for word study training and learning homework routines. This week students begin working in a group based on a pre-assessment of word and spelling knowledge.  You can review our word study components and homework procedures anytime by visiting our Word Study page in our blog’s left sidebar.  I’ve copied it into this post for your convenience.

What is Word Study?

Word study activities involve manipulating words to discover how the English spelling system works.  The following quote from Words Their Way illustrates the rationale behind this approach to spelling instruction: “Students examine words they already know how to read, and sometimes even spell, as a way to gain insight into how the spelling system works.  This in turn enables them to analyze unfamiliar words they encounter while reading and to master the spelling of similar words.”

There are three main parts to our study of words.

Weekly spelling lists . . . Techkids are assessed each trimester and groups are formed based on each students’ developmental spelling level.  These groups explore patterns and discover spelling rules through in class explorations and daily homework activities.  These activities include sorting words in a variety of ways and recording discoveries in their notebook. Students are assigned spelling words each Monday.  Their words are formatted as a word sort (on cards) and not as a spelling list.  They are expected to sort and spell their words correctly by Friday.  Each week a different spelling pattern is learned and practiced.

Word wall practice . . . These frequently misspelled words are posted on a bulletin board and practiced regularly.  These words MUST be spelled correctly on all student work.  These words are often practiced as part of our weekly spelling.

Nifty Fifty . . . These 50 polysyllabic words are used to learn about prefixes, base words, and suffixes.  We practice spelling them orally and in written form, and we also use these special words to create new words.  For example, if we know how to spell “richest” and “encouragement,” we should be able to combine word parts and spell “enrichment.”  Nifty Fifty words are often practiced as part of our weekly spelling.  On short spelling weeks, we often have Nifty Fifty spelling work instead of our usual word sorts.

What is the spelling homework each night?

On Monday, students are given two copies of their spelling words.  One copy is cut up at school and stored in an envelope kept in their homework binder or word study notebook.  The other copy should be brought home and put in a safe place for Thursday night’s Blind Sort (practice test).Each night of the week your child will have spelling homework.  Most groups follow this homework schedule:

Monday . . . Sound sort.  This sort was completed with a teacher and your child’s group in class to introduce the week’s words and patterns.  Tonight they will do the same sort and write it neatly in their word study notebook.  Word wall words are written 3x in columns not rows.

Tuesday . . . Pattern sort.  This sort was completed with a teacher and your child’s group in class.  The same sort needs to be completed and written in their word study notebook. Word wall words are written 3x in columns not rows.

Wednesday . . . S. A. W. (Sort, Alphabetize, Write) by sound.  This is a sound sort with a twist:  your child needs to sort the words and then put each column in alphabetical order.  Similar to Monday night’s homework, but alphabetized. Word wall words are written 3x in columns not rows.

Thursday . . . Blind sort.  This sort is like a practice test.  You read the words to your child. They write them and sort them by pattern (see Tuesday’s homework for patterns).  Any words that are misspelled need to be written in 5 additional times in their word study notebook. Word wall words are written 1x as part of their practice test (a.k.a. blind sort).  You should encourage your child to correct their own blind sort with Tuesday night’s corrected pattern sort.  Point out any errors they are unable to identify

Please let us know if you have any questions.