'Words Their Way' Word Study Program
Dear Families,
I am excited to share that the first graders are beginning our word study program called Words Their Way! The main benefit of the 'Words Their Way' program is that it supports differentiated word study instruction. This will allow each child to work at his/her appropriate instructional level. Students have already completed initial word study inventory assessments, providing me with information to help make instructional decisions to best support each individual student. Each week, students will be provided with a collection of word study words that are at their individual instructional level. Once students have worked with their specific word study pattern for a week, they will be assessed on the same word study patterns at the end of the week on Friday.
'Words Their Way' focuses less on memorization and more on allowing students to work with their words during different word sort activities to give them the chance to learn the different word study patterns. Word study work at home and at school will reflect this philosophy. Progress and assessments will be based on whether or not your child is meeting grade level expectations.
Our first ‘Words Their Way’ word sort assessments will not be given until Friday, October 2nd. Assessments will usually be given every Friday unless prior notice is given. The first grade team chose to provide students with additional practice time with the first word sorts, so students would feel more confident with their words/patterns. This should also help students have enough time to get into a routine of practicing their word sorts at school and at home as daily homework. Additionally, we did not want word study practice to interfere with the upcoming holiday this week.
I am excited about the opportunity to work with your child using the 'Words Their Way' word study program. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Heidi VanderVere
Practice, Practice, Practice!!!
Every week your child will be bringing home a word sort list of words that have been introduced in class. Each night of the week your child needs to complete a different homework activity to ensure that these words and the word study principles that they represent are mastered. These activities have been modeled and practiced at school, so your child should be able to help explain how to do them.
Monday: Please have your child cut their words apart and then sort the individual words into categories like the ones we did in school. Your child should read each word out loud during this activity. Next, please ask your child to explain why the words are sorted in a particular way – What does the sort reveal about the word study in general? Then please ask your child to sort his/her words a second time as fast as possible. This is called a speed sort. You can even time them if they would like you to check their speed and accuracy.
Tuesday: Please do a blind sort with your child. Please lay down a heading card or word from each category as a header. Next read each one of the words out loud. You child must indicate where the word goes by pointing without seeing it. Please lay the word down and let your child move it if he or she is incorrect. Please repeat this activity if your child makes any mistakes.
Wednesday: Please have your child do a writing sort. Please call out the words in a random order and have your child write them down in the correct category. Please call out any words your child writes incorrectly a second or third time.
Thursday: Student may choose which method they would like to use to practice their words today. They can choose between speed sort, blind sort, or writing sort. As we learn new practice methods in class, we will send home explanations so your child may use them at home as well.
Friday: Your first grader will have a word sort assessment at school. Students will only be assessed on ten of the words from their sort. At times, I may even ask students to write a word that is not included on the Word Sort sheet, but one that also fits the practiced word study pattern. This will show if students can apply their skills and transfer their knowledge to other similar words.
Dear Families,
I am excited to share that the first graders are beginning our word study program called Words Their Way! The main benefit of the 'Words Their Way' program is that it supports differentiated word study instruction. This will allow each child to work at his/her appropriate instructional level. Students have already completed initial word study inventory assessments, providing me with information to help make instructional decisions to best support each individual student. Each week, students will be provided with a collection of word study words that are at their individual instructional level. Once students have worked with their specific word study pattern for a week, they will be assessed on the same word study patterns at the end of the week on Friday.
'Words Their Way' focuses less on memorization and more on allowing students to work with their words during different word sort activities to give them the chance to learn the different word study patterns. Word study work at home and at school will reflect this philosophy. Progress and assessments will be based on whether or not your child is meeting grade level expectations.
Our first ‘Words Their Way’ word sort assessments will not be given until Friday, October 2nd. Assessments will usually be given every Friday unless prior notice is given. The first grade team chose to provide students with additional practice time with the first word sorts, so students would feel more confident with their words/patterns. This should also help students have enough time to get into a routine of practicing their word sorts at school and at home as daily homework. Additionally, we did not want word study practice to interfere with the upcoming holiday this week.
I am excited about the opportunity to work with your child using the 'Words Their Way' word study program. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Heidi VanderVere
Practice, Practice, Practice!!!
Every week your child will be bringing home a word sort list of words that have been introduced in class. Each night of the week your child needs to complete a different homework activity to ensure that these words and the word study principles that they represent are mastered. These activities have been modeled and practiced at school, so your child should be able to help explain how to do them.
Monday: Please have your child cut their words apart and then sort the individual words into categories like the ones we did in school. Your child should read each word out loud during this activity. Next, please ask your child to explain why the words are sorted in a particular way – What does the sort reveal about the word study in general? Then please ask your child to sort his/her words a second time as fast as possible. This is called a speed sort. You can even time them if they would like you to check their speed and accuracy.
Tuesday: Please do a blind sort with your child. Please lay down a heading card or word from each category as a header. Next read each one of the words out loud. You child must indicate where the word goes by pointing without seeing it. Please lay the word down and let your child move it if he or she is incorrect. Please repeat this activity if your child makes any mistakes.
Wednesday: Please have your child do a writing sort. Please call out the words in a random order and have your child write them down in the correct category. Please call out any words your child writes incorrectly a second or third time.
Thursday: Student may choose which method they would like to use to practice their words today. They can choose between speed sort, blind sort, or writing sort. As we learn new practice methods in class, we will send home explanations so your child may use them at home as well.
Friday: Your first grader will have a word sort assessment at school. Students will only be assessed on ten of the words from their sort. At times, I may even ask students to write a word that is not included on the Word Sort sheet, but one that also fits the practiced word study pattern. This will show if students can apply their skills and transfer their knowledge to other similar words.