1. Angela Kershner Amanda Lequia
Words Their Way
Angela Kershner
Amanda Lequia

2. What is Words Their Way?
Developmentally appropriate approach to teach vocabulary, spelling, and phonics
Individual process
Part of a balanced literacy plan
Fluency
Comprehension
Writing

3. Background
Words Their Way founded in 1995 and was developed by Francine Johnston, Shane Templeton, Marcia Invernizzi, & Donald Bear.

4. Words Their Way in Action
Assess the student’s knowledge of word features
Group students according to ability and spelling stage
Assessments for grouping
Primary Spelling Inventory
Elementary Spelling Inventory
Upper Level Spelling Inventory

5. Words Their Way in Action Cont.
Students’ progress should be monitored regularly
Provides for fluid groups
Students are given a group of words to sort based on the word feature that they are struggling with
Students explain why they have sorted the words the way they did

6. Standards
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.5a Sort words into categories (e.g., colors, clothing) to gain a sense of the concepts the categories represent.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.2d Generalize learned spelling patterns when writing words (e.g.,cage → badge; boy → boil).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.2e Use conventional spelling for high-frequency and other studied words and for adding suffixes to base words (e.g., sitting, smiled, cries, happiness).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.2e Spell grade-appropriate words correctly, consulting references as needed.

7. Best Pracitices Strategic thinking Collaborative activities
Formative-reflective assessment

8. Lesson Star Light, Star Bright: Vowel Pattern Game Objectives:
Students will sort words into categories based on vowel patterns.
Students will learn spelling patterns.
Materials
Star Light, Star Bright Board Game
25+ word cards
2-4 game pieces

9. Lesson Cont.
Procedure
Each player will role a die to determine who will go first. The play will then move clockwise.
The first player will draw a card from the shuffled deck of word cards.
The player will then read the word aloud and identify the vowel pattern.
If he/she does this correctly then he/she will move to the colored square indicated on the card.
The first player to reach the end wins.

10. Sources
Hillman, Lori, et al. Words Their Way With English Learners. Pearson Education Inc Print.