Word Study

What is Word Study?
A student-centered approach to phonics, spelling, and vocabulary instruction that actively engages the learner in constructing concepts about the way words work. 
 
So what...
      Many classrooms across the country are incorporating Word Study into their literacy block.  One of the most popular programs is Words Their Way.  Words Their Way is a developmental spelling, phonics, and vocabulary program.  It was developed by Invernizzi, Johnston, Bear, and Templeton.  Words Their Way is intended to be a part of a balanced literacy plan that includes fluency, comprehension, and writing.  Word study is implemented as a small component of the literacy plan but it is also interwoven in actual reading and writing texts.
       Words Their Way is an open-ended individual process. An assessment is given to determine where to begin instruction. Based on assessment results students are given words to study in order to discover the common attributes.  In this manner students are actively constructing their own knowledge of spelling patterns.  Students learn features by completing activities such as word sorting, word hunts, games, and drawing & labeling.  Students work individually, with partners, and in small groups to encourage cooperative learning and individual responsibility.

Words Their Way Books
 
Word Study Model
Students are assessed on their word knowledge and grouped accordingly.  Just like in Guided Reading, these small groups of 4-5 students should be flexible and fluid.  Each group should work on the same skill set each week.  Here is a proposed Word Study model:
 
Day 1: New Sort. Teacher introduces the new word sort and explains the sorting criteria, i.e. "ch", "sh", and "th" words.  The teacher explicitly states the name of each picture or reads the each word in the sort.  
Day 2: Sentences. Students sort words and write a sentence using each word in their word study notebook.  This amount of sentences a student writes depends on the grade level.  First grade students only pick three words from each heading and write a sentence using that word, whereas, third grade students could write a sentence for each word.

Day 3: Blind Sort. Students read the words from a list to a partner and the partner writes the words in his/her notebook.

Day 4: Games. Students play board games using their words.  The Words Their Way books have suggestions for a variety of games. 

Day 5: Word Hunts. Students look for words with the same word pattern in their “just right books”.