The Wonders of Word Study
In RSD 17 we know the importance of teaching word study and helping students transfer what they are learning during that time into reading and writing through the workshop model. Our Kindergarten and first grade students are taught systematically through the Fundations Program and our second through fourth grade students use Words Their Way.
In our word study instruction, students learn how English words work. The instruction focuses students’ attention on consistencies within our spelling system. Students learn word knowledge that they can apply generally to a wide range of reading and writing activities. This is important because what students remember about specific words enables them to form generalizations that they can apply to other words they want to read and spell.
Other word work instruction focuses on sight word instruction, especially in kindergarten and first grade. The words we choose are highly useful to our students-words they will encounter frequently in their reading as well as words that appear often in students’ own writing. Many of these words are displayed on a classroom word wall and on individual student word walls so students can reference them during their reading and writing workshop times. Because these sight words don’t follow the spelling patterns and generalizations that students will be exploring, teachers help the students learn to recognize them by how the words look and sound, and by playing games with them.
In order to transfer the skills from word study to reading and writing, kindergarten and first grade teachers use interactive writing, or the process of constructing a shared piece of writing by sharing the pen with the students. Students “share the pen” to solve the spelling of words in the piece of writing, focusing on applying the spelling patterns and sight words they have been learning in word study. In addition, kindergarten through fourth grade teachers create anchor charts with spelling strategies that students can use to help them read and spell tricky words during reading and writing workshop. Student transfer skills are also reinforced during reading and writing conferences or small group instruction.
In RSD 17 we know the importance of teaching word study and helping students transfer what they are learning during that time into reading and writing through the workshop model. Our Kindergarten and first grade students are taught systematically through the Fundations Program and our second through fourth grade students use Words Their Way.
In our word study instruction, students learn how English words work. The instruction focuses students’ attention on consistencies within our spelling system. Students learn word knowledge that they can apply generally to a wide range of reading and writing activities. This is important because what students remember about specific words enables them to form generalizations that they can apply to other words they want to read and spell.
Other word work instruction focuses on sight word instruction, especially in kindergarten and first grade. The words we choose are highly useful to our students-words they will encounter frequently in their reading as well as words that appear often in students’ own writing. Many of these words are displayed on a classroom word wall and on individual student word walls so students can reference them during their reading and writing workshop times. Because these sight words don’t follow the spelling patterns and generalizations that students will be exploring, teachers help the students learn to recognize them by how the words look and sound, and by playing games with them.
In order to transfer the skills from word study to reading and writing, kindergarten and first grade teachers use interactive writing, or the process of constructing a shared piece of writing by sharing the pen with the students. Students “share the pen” to solve the spelling of words in the piece of writing, focusing on applying the spelling patterns and sight words they have been learning in word study. In addition, kindergarten through fourth grade teachers create anchor charts with spelling strategies that students can use to help them read and spell tricky words during reading and writing workshop. Student transfer skills are also reinforced during reading and writing conferences or small group instruction.