1. Word Study Instruction as Part of a Balanced Literacy Approach
Amy W. Thornburg, Ph.D.
CMS Literacy Wiki:

2. What is Word Study?
A hands-on, differentiated approach to teach phonics, spelling, and vocabulary
where students:
compare and contrast word features
discover similarities and differences within and between categories
work in ability groups, not as a whole class
You need 28 exposures to internalize and fully understand a concept. - PEAK

3. Three Layers of Orthography
The Basis for Word Study:
Alphabetic – Relationship between letters and sounds
Pattern - Certain words (or syllable parts) have patterns (or chunks) within them to help us pronounce them. Most of the time, we can take these patterns/chunks and apply them to other words.
Meaning - Groups of letters represent meaning directly. This is when we learn prefixes, suffixes, and Greek and Latin roots.

4. Five Stages of Word Knowledge
Emergent Reader— Emergent
Beginning Reader— Letter Name-Alphabetic
Transitional Reader— Within Word Pattern
Intermediate Reader— Syllables and Affixes
Advanced Reader— Derivational Relations

5. Research Shows…
The best way to develop fast, accurate perception of word features is to…
engage in meaningful reading and writing
have multiple opportunities to examine the same set of words (both out of and in context)
use hands-on practice with words

6. Orthography, Reading, Oral Language, Stories, Writing
Braid of Literacy:
Orthography, Reading, Oral Language, Stories, Writing

7. Word Study is effective when…
Working with ELL’s
Working with struggling students
Working with high ability groups
Used in conjunction with Guided Reading / Reader’s Workshop / Literature Circles / Daily 5 or ability leveled reading program
Used in conjunction with Writer’s Workshop or any writing program

8. Successful Implementation for Internalization
Word Study words should be weekly spelling words
Word Study groups must be based on ability level and individual student needs
Word study groups should coincide with reading groups
Word study should include sorts (pictures or words) AND supplemental activities/games
Word study should include reading and writing
Word study should be used every day (in some aspect) because students need repetition and practice

9. Assessments to Guide Instruction
The text includes a collection of words that represent the variety of features we expect children to master in the order of development.
Helpful tools:
Individual Spelling Inventories
Classroom Composite
Classroom Organizational Chart

10. Individual Spelling Inventory

11. Classroom Composite

12. Classroom Organizational Chart

13. Assessments
Spelling assessments can help us determine what spelling features to address in our instruction.
Informal:
Weekly tests, journals, writings, reading, conferencing
Formal:
Student Written Work—shows errors in writing
Running Records / TRC – shows errors when reading
Spelling Inventories—given at the beginning of the year and end of each quarter

14. Weekly Assessments
Given in a variety of ways (writing sort, bingo, speed sort)
Use some words that have been sorted and additional words (don’t have to use all)
Have students use words in context (sentences, stories, paragraphs, cloze procedure)

15. Change in Thinking Teaching change = Parent thinking change
Make sure parents know how to effectively support spelling at home.
Parent letters
Homework
Activities

16. Parent Letter Examples
Beginning of the year introduction to Word Study
Another introductory letter with homework cheat sheet
Word Study homework contract

17. Types of Sorts Picture Sorts Word Sorts Letters/sounds Greek roots
Beginnings/endings
Latin roots
Vowels (short & long)
Compounds
Blends
Change in endings
(y to i+es, doubling or not)
Digraphs
Prefixes
Suffixes