Words Their Way Information
General Information on Words Their Way from Ms. Welch, our CST:
"Words Their Way is a word study program in which students learn by sorting words into categories. Students are given the task of making sense of words on their own terms. Like scientists or detectives, they are looking for patterns in spelling and sound in order to categorize words. WTW does not teach spelling “rules” which will all know have so many exceptions in English. It instead offers opportunities for hands-on, developmentally appropriate word work which leads to a greater understanding of our spelling system. Students are not required to memorize a word list to then produce on an isolated test. Instead students will apply the word pattern skill(s) in their writing during writing workshop/classwork. Students work with words throughout the week by doing a variety of activities to help them learn and then apply the pattern(s) of these words in their writing."
Fourth graders are introduced to a new sort each week. They are asked to look at the list of words, and share what they notice about these words. The goal is for students to recognize these patterns through commonalities in the words. The similarities are identified in several different ways including how they sound, how they are spelled, or how they are used in context. After we have reviewed the categories the spelling words belong in, students are asked to sort words based on the spelling rules. They then complete an activity based on this sort in order to reinforce the concepts.
"Words Their Way is a word study program in which students learn by sorting words into categories. Students are given the task of making sense of words on their own terms. Like scientists or detectives, they are looking for patterns in spelling and sound in order to categorize words. WTW does not teach spelling “rules” which will all know have so many exceptions in English. It instead offers opportunities for hands-on, developmentally appropriate word work which leads to a greater understanding of our spelling system. Students are not required to memorize a word list to then produce on an isolated test. Instead students will apply the word pattern skill(s) in their writing during writing workshop/classwork. Students work with words throughout the week by doing a variety of activities to help them learn and then apply the pattern(s) of these words in their writing."
Fourth graders are introduced to a new sort each week. They are asked to look at the list of words, and share what they notice about these words. The goal is for students to recognize these patterns through commonalities in the words. The similarities are identified in several different ways including how they sound, how they are spelled, or how they are used in context. After we have reviewed the categories the spelling words belong in, students are asked to sort words based on the spelling rules. They then complete an activity based on this sort in order to reinforce the concepts.
Weekly WTW Vocabulary
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Level D Sort (ON/ADV)
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Level E Sort (ACC)
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