Understanding Words Their Way - Developmental Word Study Program

I am conducting a PLC on Word Work using Words Their Way this week, and I wanted to share some of the information I am sharing with other teachers. Have you used Words Their Way? What spelling program do you use? What makes that program effective? If you are interested in differentiating your instruction to meet the needs of all of your students, this just might be the program for you. I will be honest, while it is very time consuming to prep and teach, I see such wonderful growth in both reading and writing which makes the added effort and hard work worthwhile. 

Word Study in Action

Words Their Way

Developmental Spelling & Word Study

Developmental Stages  - Word study evolved from decades of research that documented spelling errors in clusters which reflect children’s confusion over reoccurring orthographic principles. "Words Their Way” uses these developmental stages to inform instruction because there is a significant consistency between stages of reading development and stages of spelling development, and research suggests that they are both integrally related (Bear et al., 2000).

1. Emergent – Early Letter Name

Characteristics

·         Neglect to use any sound-symbol correspondence

·         Represent strongest sounds with a single letter

·         Have an incomplete knowledge of alphabet

Word Study Focus

·         Concepts Sorts

·         Rhyming Pairs

·         Beginning consonants

·         Blends and Diagraphs

·         Short-Vowel Word Families

Emergent - Early Letter Name

2.   Letter Name

Characteristics

·         Apply the alphabet literally using the letter names to spell sounds

·         Spell phonetically; represent most strong sounds and beginning consonants

·         Omit most silent letters and preconsonantal nasals

Word Study Focus

·         Beginning Consonants

·         Blends and Digraphs

·         Same Vowel Word Families

·         Mixed Vowel Word Families

·         Short Vowels

·         Preconsonantal Nasal

Letter-Name

3.    Within Word Pattern

Characteristics

·          Correctly spells most single syllable, short vowel words, beginning consonant digraphs, and two letter consonant blends

·         Attempts to use silent long-vowel markers

·         Uses but confuses long-vowel patterns

Word Study Focus

·         Long Vowels (CVCe)

·         Other Common Long-Vowel Patterns

·         R-Influenced Vowel Patterns

·         Diphthongs and Vowel Digraphs

·         Complex Consonant Clusters

·         Homophones

Within Word Pattern 

4.   Syllables and Affixes

Characteristics

·         Connect word knowledge with vocabulary growth

·         Correctly spell most single-syllable, short-vowel and long-vowel words and high-frequency words

·         Make errors at syllable juncture points and in unaccented syllables

Word Study Focus

·         Compound Words

·         Inflected Endings

·         Open and Closed Syllables

·         Accented Syllables

·         Unaccented Syllables

·         Prefixes and Suffixes

Syllables & Affixes  

5.    Derivational Relations

Characteristics

·         Connect word knowledge with vocabulary growth

·         Spell most words correctly

·         Make errors on low-frequency multisyllabic words derived from Latin and Greek forms

Word Study Focus

• Prefixes & Suffixes
• Greek & Latin Roots
• Assimilated Prefixes

Derivational Relations

Why Try Words Their Way?

According to a study done in 2001, students who received word study format instruction with a most common usage strategy produced more sophisticated and advanced orthographic spellings than those of their peers that were taught traditionally. Students were able to transfer their learned orthographic information more easily than the students in the traditional spelling group.

How Do I Begin?

Use the Developmental Spelling Inventory to analyze your students’ knowledge of orthographic information. There are two different pre-tests you could use. One is faster while another gives more information but is longer to administer.  

WTW Developmental Spelling Inventory Guide

Grouping

I try to keep these groups similar to my guided reading groups. Sometimes you have a low speller who is a high reader and you may need to adjust accordingly. I try to keep similar spelling levels and reading levels in the same group so it makes it easier to manage. If you have a lot of inconsistencies, having different guided reading groups and spelling groups is the way to go.

Gradual Release

Explicitly teach headers and black bolded example words. Gradually invite students to help participate and explain where/why they are sorting words as you teach sort with small group. Discuss vocabulary/homophones as you add words to sort.

Click here to see the beginning of a lesson teaching a within word pattern sort

Possible Word Study Schedule

In the intermediate grades a teacher is really only needed to “run” word work time when teaching the sort and administering the assessment. Students then use this time for about 15 min. a day as a center during Reading Workshop. Primary teachers might need to do whole group but with different word sorts for each group. Students store their baggie of words in their Reading File Folder at school.

·         Day 1 – Teach the new sorts during guided reading time.

·         Day 2 – Cut and Sort - Read Words, Sort Words, and Justify your sort to someone

·         Day 3- Write Words – Written activities on Edhelper.com – Crossword puzzles, Word Search, Sentences using word to fill in the blank, identify correct spellings, etc….

·         Day 4 – Create Using the Words – Create a new list using same sorting rule, create word art using words, create a crossword or word search and have a partner solve

·         Day 5 – Play a Game Using Words – Charades, Spelling Dice, Hangman, etc…

·         Day 6 – Read, Write, Sort – Using whiteboards students give themselves a practice test

·         Day 7 – Administer quizzes to each group during guided reading time

·         Day 8 – Review how you did and record misspellings in personal dictionary & practice 4 times using spelling flap folder

Sources: www.pearsonschool.com

Reading Portfolio - Organizing Reading Materials in an Intermediate Classroom

Looking for an organizational alternative for your "Reading Binders"? Upon taking a new position this school year, I knew my traditional reading binders were not going to work due to changing classes with two groups of students. Binders were difficult to keep organized even having one group of students throughout the day. I was so excited when another teacher shared this organizational strategy with me...so I decided to pass it on! These are 5 pocket portfolios that can be purchased for $1 in the dollar section at Target right around back to school time. 

They have a great elastic clasp that can easily be reinserted if it comes off. The plastic tabs also pop right back on. Overall they are very durable. I store each class set in a crate. Students pass them out and collect them at the beginning and end of class. This means that nothing is ever lost or forgotten! Well...for the most part. ;) 

 I have the front part saved for read to self books, word study sorts (in a plastic baggie) and any guided reading written responses.

The first tab is for "Logs". This includes reading log, books I plan to read list, and goal sheet.
Get Reader's Notebook pages on Scholastic Website here!

The second section is for "Lessons". The students have a packet of our school's unit curriculum. They tear off pages as we use them. This saves time passing out papers each class. 

The next section is for "Literature Circles" (LC). The students store their book, literature response book (From Really Good Stuff), and any literature circle response activities/discussion questions.
Click here to view my Literature Circle Bundle on TPT!
Get a sample of my Literature Circle Response Packets that engage students in thinking beyond the text.

Finally, the last section is for their "Reader's Response Journal" or RRJ. This is what we use to practice responding to reading. It also is a fun activity for students to complete with any book.
Click here to get the RRJ on my TPT page! :)

Say goodbye to desk clutter, lost papers, and missing word work. This is one of the best organization strategies I've discovered! And SUPER affordable on a teacher's budget!