1. Sorting Out Word Study: A Guide for Parents By Kathy Limerick Reading Specialist Falmouth Elementary

2. What is Word Study? WORD STUDY (Developmental process of learning how written language works) Research-based system of learning that will improve decoding, spelling, and vocabulary Differs from traditional spelling instruction in that does not rely on rote memorization Uses hands-on activities such picture and word sorting Helps students to compare and contrast word features and discover similarities and differences within and between categories

3. Word Study Letter-sound correspondence High frequency word recognition Study of spelling patterns Phonics Decoding strategies Word use and meaning Hands-on activities No rote memorization

4. The Importance of Word Study Developmental- Begins at the student’s spelling developmental stage and builds Meaningful connections Explicit skill instruction Systematic scope and sequence

5. Research Notes on Word Study Our brains need organized ways to learn. Patterns and categories Concept of word study ‘sticks’ with us Spelling errors can be analyzed. Three layers of English Orthography (alphabet, pattern, meaning)

6. Stages of Word Knowledge Emergent Letter-Name Within Word Syllables and Affixes Derivational Relations

7. Emergent Pre-K through middle of first grade Pre-reading stage Symbol salad/ ‘Pretend writing’ Phonetic representation Beginning to memorize some words Focus of this stage: Students learn that letters represent sounds and the sounds can be put together to form words

8. Samples of Emergent Spelling Scribbles to represent words Letter-like symbols (Think hieroglyphics) Random letters Repeated letters from name

9. Letter-Name Stage Kindergarten through grade 2 Concept of Word and finger point to words Patterned Text Short Vowels Consonant blends and digraphs Beginning single consonants Use nasals (jump, bunch) prior to next stage Focus of this stage: Students write letter representations for each sound heard. The short vowels are identified.

10. Samples of Letter-Name Spelling Jm/ jam, fn/fun (Early) Tat/ that, jum/ drum (Middle) Bak/ back, bot/boat (Late)

11. Within Word Pattern Grade 1 to the middle of grade 4 Transitional stage of reading development Common long vowel patterns in writing Represent every sound plus notice patterns for unsounded parts R- and l- influenced vowels Focus: Students identify short and long vowels for one syllable words prior to multiple syllables

12. Samples of Within Word Spelling Rane/rain, shipe/ship (Early) Gril/girl, hert/ hurt- R-controlled vowel patterns (Early) Nite/ night, bote/ boat- Common long- vowel patterns (Middle) Qween/ queen, skrap/scrap- Complex patterns (Middle to late) Owch/ouch- Abstract vowels (Late)

13. Syllable Juncture Stage or Syllable Affixes Stage Grades 3-8 and beyond Read and write to learn Add prefixes and suffixes Use syllable patterns to write new words Spelling-meaning connection Examine multiple syllable words and patterns Vocabulary development Focus: Students learn to think about word syllables and how to represent them.

14. Samples of Syllable-Juncture Spelling What happens to words when changing from one syllable to two syllables? Bakeing/ baking- Dropping letters Siting/ sitting- Doubling letters Complante/complaint- Long vowel stressed syllables Sampul/ sample- Vowel patterns in unstressed syllables Prefixes and suffixes

15. Derivational Stage Grade 4 and beyond Mostly Greek and Latin origin Roots have meanings Good readers and writers Make spelling and meaning connections Investigate the history of words and their derivations Word meanings and spellings are related Focus: Students develop word knowledge through Greek and Latin roots and spellings.

16. Samples of Derivational Relations Spelling Using prefixes, suffixes, and roots to learn the meaning of words Sign to signal- Silent and sounded consonants Compose to composition- Vowel changes in sound Invisible vs. respectable- Latin suffixes that sound alike In + literate = Illiterate, sub +press = suppress- Absorbed or assimilated prefixes

17. Beginning Word Study Identify students’ word knowledge. Analyze what students know about words. Errors provide a “window” to the brain. Build on prior knowledge Progress through the spelling stages in order Provide word sorts that contain similar spelling features Students practice daily writing using their approximations of words.

18. How do we assess student’s developmental spelling stage? Developmental Spelling Analysis (DSA) Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS)

19. Best Practices for Word Study Compare/ Contrast Sorting and Classifying Include words in daily writing (practical uses) Hands-on experience through sorts and games Use the spelling-meaning connection to expand vocabulary knowledge Students look for spelling generalizations instead of learning a set of rules.

20. Word Study Activities Concept Sort Picture Sort Word Sort Open Sort Closed Sort Blind Sort Writing Sort Speed Sort Word Hunt Rainbow Words