Words+Their+Way+Tip+Sheet

Word study is a teacher-directed yet student centered approach to spelling instruction, and when integrated into a comprehensive literacy program it can help support young children’s literacy development. Through small-group word study lessons we can explicitly teach students what they need to know about the English spelling system, and we can keep them engaged and motivated through hands on word work activities that promote inquiry and critical thinking.
 * PHILOSOPHY**

**Tip 1 Assessment** *2 types of assessment Spelling Inventory -Use at the beginning, middle, end (include in study portfolio good to see growth.) *Analyze students independent writing -No need to stick to the developmental levels if they using more advanced patterns feel free to teach to them within conferencing. **Tip 2 Grouping** *homogenous small group is essential. Grade1 and below are easier to group with reading levels Grade 2 and up more groups *Center activities are good for younger grades or trying to pull small groups during writers workshop.

**Tip 3 Time for Preparing Word Study Instruction** *Make time even though it’s hard.

**Tip 4 Teach Words Knowledge, Not Just Words** *Teaching not only words but word knowledge. *Helping them to look at words in a different way to apply in both reading and writing *Avoid simple memorization

**Tip 5 Demonstrate How Word Study Can Be Used During Reading & Writing** *Integrate words study during reading and writing time. *Interactive writing/writing and guided reading are opportunities to include. *Include word study in conferencing with students.

**Tip 6 Teach Strategies That Support Students’ Use of Word Study Instruction** *explicit instruction *using strategies with the whole class or in word study session *”use this word and you know how to do all of these words” *Match no excuse words with patterns or word wall -integrate with Word Study *Posters or visual cues around the room to assist students **Tip 7 Make Your Word Wall Work** *Should not just be a display needs to be used often *A resource for students and teacher *Needs to show orthographic feature of the word and the generative way to spell words example :HIGH FREQUENCY word see, --leads to tree, deed, etc.

**Tip 8 “Word Work” should work, too!** *repeated hands on games and activities done independently with buddies or in centers. *Must promote inquiry and discovery (ex. word searches, magnetic letters, etc.) *Using spelling inventory to assign buddies that are changed throughout the year based on development.

**Tip 9 Engage Students in Extensive “Real” Reading and Writing** *Promote real life reading and writing. Spelling knowledge supports reading and writing. 