Words Their Way
Monday, October 8, 2007
We’ve begun a new spelling program, called Words Their Way. Spelling, just like reading, is developmental. The research shows that students that have trouble spelling may also have trouble decoding words. Therefore, the new spelling program has an emphasis on really learning the spelling pattern, being able to recognize the sound, and recalling all the different ways that a particular sound can be spelled. Once the students learn the different ways that a particular sound can be spelled, it is easier for them to decode unfamiliar words in their reading.
The students are taught to sort words by like spelling patterns. The students must also recognize that words may be spelled with a particular pattern, but don’t sound the same. For instance, our pattern this week is long i words spelled ie, il, igh, and y (master words this week are lie, wild, sigh, and my). The students must be able to recognize that a words can be oddball words. For instance, the word eight is spelled with igh, but it doesn’t have a long i sound so it is oddball. Oddball words can also have the same sound but aren’t spelled the same way as the pattern, like kite. There is also a doesn’t fit category every week the students must place words from previous weeks that don’t fit the pattern and aren’t oddball words.
Pretests are no longer given on Mondays so the students can focus on sorting words. The students are given a post test on Fridays in which they must sort the words according to the master words for the week. The test words can be any of the 20 words that they worked with during the week, as well as other words that fit the pattern.
Each week, the students are given word sort cards to help them learn and practice the spelling pattern. Please encourage your student to use the word sort cards when they complete their homework. Also, encourage your student to look for other words that fit the pattern in the book that they are reading, in newspapers, on street signs, and in speaking.
