Download Words Their Way

Words Their Way
Dear Parents,
Okay, buckle your seatbelts! I know this page is lengthy, but I have some very important
information to share with you. It concerns our new word study program (spelling) that your
child will be involved in everyday of the week here at school. This year I will be using a
program called Worlds Their Way in my classroom. Words Their Way is phonics, spelling, and
vocabulary instruction through daily word study.
One focus of word study is to teach students how to spell and decode new words and to
improve their word recognition speed in general. To accomplish this goal, I will teach the
students how to examine words to learn the regularities that exist in the spelling system. I will
also teach them some irregularities of spelling (we call “oddball words”). The simple process of
sorting words into categories is the heart of our word study program. When students sort
words, they are engaged in the active process of searching, comparing, contrasting, and
analyzing. Word sorts help students organize what they know about words and to form
generalizations that they can then apply to new words they encounter in their reading.
The best part of a word study is that your child can sort words anywhere! Yes, anywhere! And
I‘d like for him/her to start sorting their weekly spelling words at home. It’s easy and it’s fun!
It’s a hands-on way to get kids to learn more about our spelling system!
Classroom Word Study Schedule
Monday: Students will be given a list of 20-30 spelling words for the week. They will copy
their list into their composition book so they can study their words at home. Their final
test will not be all 20-30 words. I will choose 20 words (they will not know which 20
until the test) that reflect each of the spelling patterns learned that they will be tested on
that week. They must study all 20-30 words but only 20 will be on the post/final test.
Tuesday: Students will sort and identify word patterns in their composition notebook in small
teacher guided groups. I will also give them time to work cooperatively with another
student on pattern word sorts.
Wednesday: Students will do a speed sort and a blind sort. Students will also hunt for
additional words that follow the spelling pattern. If time allows students will also play a
spelling game.
Thursday: Students will complete a spelling game and/or speed sort. We will also be using
Spelling City on our iPads as a pretest.
Friday: Students will take the weekly post-test.
What you can do at home:
1. Each week I will send home some word cards and various header cards. Have your child
cut out the word cards and the different head cards. Many times we will have already
done this in class.
2. There will be directions on the header page that tells you what kinds of sorts the kids
can do with their word cards.
a. For example, they may be able to sort the words by vowel sound, beginning or
ending sounds, or beginning and ending blends. Sometimes students can sort
their words in three or more different ways.
3. Decide upon a way for your child to sort his/her cards. Put those headers at the top of an
open area (he/she will need some room to work).
4. Let your child sort the word cards. If he/she makes a mistake, don’t correct it right
away. You’ll have time to do that later.
5. When your child is finished, go through each column and make sure he/she can
pronounce each word and confirm that the word “fits” underneath the header. This
is the time to help them correct any mistakes.
6. When finished, mix up the cards again and do a different sort if possible.
a. If you can only do one type of sort, then try something called a “speed sort”. Time
how long it takes them to do the sort and see if he/she can beat the time. They
LOVE this!
7. It is extremely important that your child can pronounce each word. Keep reviewing this
if you find it is a little difficult. They should know the meanings of the words as well.
8. Each week I will try to send home a different type of sort that your child can do.
This is not official homework. Nothing needs to be turned back into me. I just thought this
would be a fun, more productive, and a more meaningful way of studying spelling words
with your child. The days of copying words five or ten times each is gone.
Whew, nothing like information overload! Please do
email me if you have ANY questions or concerns on
try it, I think you will like it and so will the children!
Mrs. Pede
not hesitate to call or
this new program. Just