Word Study
The Basics. Read Ms. Crook's Version before closing!
What is Word Study?
1. Learning to apply the sounds in the English Language. 2. The Word Wall—high frequency vocabulary is introduced using a variety of activities and is prominently displayed in the classroom. a. Spelling activities and word games related to the words on the wall and their word families b. “Making Words” activities designed to develop an understanding of word patterns. c. Use of chants, rhymes, songs and sound play to support literacy concepts.
Buddy Study
Day 1: Choose, Write, Build, Mix, Fix
1. The teacher provides a clear, focused lesson on a strategy, pattern, or principle to the whole class based on what is noticed about what students’ needs are. They share a variety of words and generalize examples, while adding to the list. The teacher guides choices, verifies correct spelling, and confirms good choices.
3. Children then make the words on their card with magnetic letters, mixing the letters and making the words 2-3 times.
Day 2: Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check Having students write words many times does not aid in helping them learn how to look and study words. They need instruction that helps them know what parts of the word to notice. The key is for them to make hypotheses about why words are spelled the way they are.
1. First students take a piece of paper with 3-4 columns and write their list of words in the first column. Beginning with one word, they say it and notice the parts to remember, looking closely at the letters to notice the visual details.
2. Then they cover the word with the fold-down flap so the previous column is not seen and think about how the word looks. Saying the word softly, they write it from memory in the next column.
3. Then they uncover and check it with the word in the previous column. The process is repeated until they have used all of their words.
4. If the word is misspelled, they add the word to the first column again and repeat the process. The process places responsibility on students to focus on their own learning and check on themselves as they make progress toward more conventional spelling.
Day 3: Buddy Check
1. Buddies are paired up based on instructional level. Buddies work together dictating their words to each other, and checking each other’s Buddy Check sheets.
2. They place a check to the right of correct words and an X to the right of the incorrect ones. 3. Words that are misspelled in the last column on the sheet are made with magnetic letters.
Day 4: Making Connections Making connections provides an opportunity for an open-ended task that engages students in thinking about how words are related. 1. The children write their words at the top, highlight parts to remember, and then make lists of words they can link to each word by focusing on how words sound, look, and/or mean.
Day 5: Buddy Test
1. Buddies test each other on the week’s list. The buddy dictates each word and uses it in a sentence as the other child writes the word in their word study notebook.
2. The children then place their notebooks in a basket and the teacher corrects the test. 3. Words that students continue to misspell are made again with magnetic letters and remain on the Words to Learn sheet for future choice.
4. The children then check off or highlight the words they’ve learned on the Words to Learn or high frequency words list. The expectation is that they will spell these words correctly in their writing.
Ms. Crook's Version
Wednesday- New Words are given in class. The students are given a list of words based on the concept being taught. They choose 12 words off that list and the other 3 words will be academic words that I give them. Flashcards are to be made in their Word Study composition books for homework.
Thursday- We will work with our words in class, using look, say, cover, write, check. A spelling activity for the week is to be done for homework in their Word Study Composition book.
Friday- Buddy Check in class. Rainbow words for homework. (Friday's activity may change week to week.)
Monday- Students complete Making Connections in Word Study Notebook for homework.
Tuesday- Buddy Study (practice test with parent and the parent must sign the test.)
Wednesday- Buddy Test in Class
Contact me with questions!
Email: jcrook@alvinisd.net
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