1. Word Study in Practice
What does it look like?

2. Sorts “I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand”
Are the heart of Word Study because we naturally categorize information in our brain.
Children are able to make their own discoveries and form generalizations about how the English language works. AVOID STATING RULES
Do not depend on rote memorization
More practice & exposure than a traditional phonics program
Sorting doubles or triples the number of examples students work on as workbook pages only have maybe 10 examples.

3. Sorting by Sound Picture Sorts Word Sorts Blind Sorts
Picture: EM-eWW. Can be used to develop phonological awareness (rhyme & alliteration) At some point TSW sort pictures by initial sounds, blends & digraphs, word families, or vowel sounds
Word: First identifying the sound in words like TAPE before looking at the pattern
Blind: written word can give it away. Categories are given, but word is given aloud. Student points to the correct category w/o ever seeing the word

4. Sorting by Pattern Word sorts Writing Sorts
LN- sort by word families (hat/cat/rat/sat)
WW- sort by vowel patterns (wait/train/mail/pain)

5. Sorting by Meaning Country Concept Sorts
Spelling-Meaning Sorts (homophones)
City

6. Suggestions Have students color code the back of the sorts
Make sorts easier or harder by increasing/decreasing the number of contrasts
Use oddballs when applicable
Deal with mistakes through questioning & review. Too many mistakes may indicate a student needs to step back

7. Manipulations use letter tiles white boards
remind students to NOT erase the whole word, but to add/erase 1 or 2 letters

8. Before Jumping in...
introduce your students to basic sorting procedures
Set up a weekly schedule and build predictable routines
Let parents know about Word Study
Keep teacher led introductory lessons short (15 minutes)
Plan time for students to sort independently & with partners

9. Fitting Word Study in... Word Study Block
All students work on WS at the same time. All are working on the same activity, just with different words
Integrated into Reading block
Students work on Word Study Activities throughout Circle-Seat-Center

10. During Circle-Seat-Center
introduce sorts
speed sorts
manipulations
writing sorts
Blind Sort
cut sorts
draw & label
word hunts
ABC order
Speciality activities*
creating lists
Word Study games
concept sorts
buddy sorts
buddy writing sorts

11. Regardless of what you choose to do...
Have a weekly routine where students know and understand procedures and your expectations

12. Sample Routines In Class Monday Tuesday Wed. Thursday Friday
intro sort
buddy sort
word hunt
assessment
Copy new list
copy words & sort
writing sort
rainbow writing
speed sort
closed sort
draw & label
Wordle
GAME

13. Ten Principles of Word Study
Look for what the students “use but confuse”
A step back is a step forward
Use words students can read
Compare words “that do” and words “that don’t”
Sort by sound then by pattern

14. Principles continued... Begin with obvious contrasts first
Don’t hide exceptions
Avoid rules
Work for automaticity
Return to meaningful text