| Words Their Way Spelling |
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The “Words Their Way” program is a developmental program designed to allow each student to work and progress at their individual ability level. We will do sorting activities in class with the spelling words, and we will ask you to repeat these activities at home for homework. The activities will largely be the same from week to week to minimize confusion. Students usually find our sorting activities fun and engaging – we hope you will, too!
You may be wondering……..???????
What’s different about this from the last couple of weeks?
Spelling words will no longer be listed on the homework calendars, since we will have more than one set of words. Your child will bring home a page of words each week to be cut apart and worked with AT HOME.
What do we do with the page of words sent home each week?
The words need to be cut apart and KEPT AT HOME in a zip-loc bag. Keeping it in a special place to use each night will help your child build a routine. We will keep a set of words at school for daily use in the classroom.
Do all students work on the same words?
No…There will be some students working on the same words as your child. Our specialized groups help children to work at an appropriate level. The different word groups focus on building a knowledge of spelling patterns that will carry over into all areas of reading, rather than simply memorizing some words for a weekly test. Students know they are working on different words, but the word groups are simply DIFFERENT – not easier or harder.
Will there still be graded spelling tests?
Yes…All students will have graded weekly tests on their own words.
Will parents need to help with “Words Their Way” homework?
YES…some of the activities require you to check the word sorts or call out the words while your child writes them.
Do other grade levels do spelling this way?
Yes…”Words Their Way” is used throughout the grade levels at Stevens Creek, so next year you’ll be seeing similar activities.
What do you mean by “sorting” the words?
Students will be looking at various spelling patterns, such as long vowels and short vowels. In class we will separate the words by these patterns, and you’ll repeat this work for reinforcement at home.
What kinds of “sorting” can we expect to do at home?
In first grade we will be using some fun, simple yet effective sorts. You’ll notice that sometimes we are really just writing the words for practice, as opposed to dividing them into groups. Here are some examples.
SAMPLE SPELLING WORD LIST: cat rat sit hit big mat (etc.)
REPEAT SORT
After words are cut apart, students will move them around on a table. They will separate their words in the same way they were separated in school when the words were introduced, following a specific spelling pattern. Students will write the words onto notebook paper to turn in. They should look at the words as they write them in order to get the spelling correct. Your child should be able to talk to you about why they have sorted their words the way they have prior to writing them down.
cat sit
rat hit
mat big (Short vowel is the sort here.)
SAILBOAT SORT
Each word will be written in the shape of a sail.
c
ca
cat
We have paper with the sailboat outline already drawn that will be used initially. Once we have the hang of this sort, we’ll let the children draw their own boats.
ABC SORT
Students will need lots of room for this one! The student will move the words around to put them into alphabetical order. Have your child let you know when they are through moving their words around, then check over them before they write them.
WORD WAGON or WORD TRAIN
Students will write the entire word on their wagon or train, then write the first and last letters on the wheels.
BLIND SORT
This is like a practice spelling test. We’ll want you to call out the words to your child and have them write them into their notebook to turn in. We hope words will be written in the correct group as well as spelled correctly. This will look just like the REPEAT SORT, only this time students will not be looking at the words.
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