Words Their Way Kickoff!

Today we kicked off "Words Their Way," which is the program we will use to help students become better spellers and word analyzers.  Students are in small groups, based on how they did on our Words Their Way pre-test.  Within our class, we have five small groups.  

"Word Study" Notebook Cover
with attached "Sort" Pocket

Students are responsible for their "Word Study" notebook, which will be used to document what they are working on with words.  On the cover you will notice a pocket.  The pocket is for students to keep their "sorts" in.

At the end of each sort, words will be either recycled or re-used, depending on how proficient students become with that particular sort.

When you open the notebook, you will notice a few items.  On the inside cover is a stapled in place, folded sheet of paper.  This is a general schedule, which could change depending on the week.  Currently, day 1 is Monday, 2 is Tuesday, 3 is Wednesday...and so on.  However, as soon as we have a couple of days off here and there, the Monday to Friday schedule goes out the door.  Students will catch on, since we practice routines on a regular basis.  On the backside of the schedule, you will also notice 9 (quite) small descriptions.  These are descriptions of the activities that students will do with their words.  Students are going to learn all of these activities at school, but we have included them so that if they forget, and an adult or sibling is helping them out and has no idea what a "Meaning Activity" is, they can simply look it up.  

The next thing you might find, especially after day 1's is a sheet of paper with your child's words on it.  We will cut these out on day 2's.  Until then, we begin each sort with a "Meaning Sort."  With this sort, students determine how familiar they are with a particular group of words.

Remember, our only goal with this Word Study program is not just spelling.  Of course we want each student to become fabulous spellers, but we also want them to begin to recognize word patterns and realize how words are formed.  All of those skills combined will make your child a more complete speller, writer, and reader.

Check out the following "Slide Rocket" to get an idea of the various activities we will complete and do this school year with Words Their Way: