My Spelling Program

I decided to hook up with my friend Denise's Linky Party.  She always has lots of good stuff going on with her blog!!!


We use the program Words Their Way which is full of details and word cards that can be used with kids.  In 2nd grade, we mainly work on patterns inside of words, prefixes, and suffixes.  

With this program I have 4 different spelling groups that I test through multiple choice tests and just looking at their writing.  Sometimes we play Spelling Swamp to see who can hang on the longest and stay in the 'hut'.  

Last year we used Fountas and Pinnell's spelling and I had 24 different lists going in my room!!  I had partners and the kids would test themselves, but if I found a cheater amongst the group, I tested them and they had to move their behavior clip.

I am most excited about how we do spelling homework because the kids have several choices in deciding what they want to do.  Thursday nights are cool spelling night and the kids get to decide what kind of 'creation' that they want to keep.  This hear we've had all sorts of cakes and brownies with spelling words written on them, spelling shirts, mobiles, you name it.

I hope this helps explain a little of what I do with spelling.  I will do a much more detailed post soon!  Now, if you want to go read other blog posts about spelling, just click on the button below!

Spelling Doesn't Have to Be Boring!

A picture is worth a thousand words.  So...I am giving you two thousand tonight!  Spelling doesn't have to be boring...in fact, it can be fun!  Just look at the picture below of one of my shining stars.  He makes my day every day!

My kids are given a 'spelling menu' at the beginning of every year which helps them find knew ways to practice their spelling words.  We encourage them to be creative.  Just look!

As you can see, he is proud of his orange!  His spelling words are written on the shapes.  The mobile now hangs from my lights in my classroom!

Give a kid some chalk and....well.....he might do some spelling!!

I thought you might enjoy a new take on an old subject!

Words Their Way --Continuing the Saga!

In my continuing saga of figuring out this program, it occured to me that I had better communicate with my parents before there was a spelling revolt!  So, I came up with the chart that I am including for you to download below if you are headlong into this program like me. Or, if you are trying to differentiate your spelling lists and need some help with communication, maybe this will be the thing you are looking for!

I also found this really neat website that might help getting those word sorts started!

Word Sorts--Use them to teach spelling!

How are you going to address the Reading Foundations Standards RF K.3, 1.3, 2.3, 3.3, etc???  Here are my thoughts...

Let me start off by saying that I have always used picture sorts or word sorts to teach spelling patterns and sounds.  I am almost 18 years strong in that. 

However, I have never completely 'relied' on them as my total 'spelling' teaching tool.

At this point, if you aren't differentiating your spelling words for your students you are doing them a major disservice.  Strong words, I know, but I believe in my heart it is true.  And, believe you me, parents do NOT understand it.  Anyhoo....

Last year, we started differentiating our spelling lists using Word Matters by F/P.  They recommend that each student be introduced to a pattern or several word patterns at a time and choose the words they want on their spelling test.  I did it.  It worked.  But it was HARD.  That's not to say that it is not a good program....it is just better to use it with a small class of 16 or 17....not a class of 23+.

In the middle of the year last year, we were introduced to Words Their Way, a book I've had in my possession for a LONG time.  I think I got a 1st edition copy about 15 years ago during some training.  As a staff, some went the F/P way and some went with WTW.  My grade level did a combination of both.

This year though, as a staff we are going full scale Words Their Way and I have just completed my testing and grouped my students. I have 4 groups so far! There are several different levels of 'word understanding' that students can be in and the testing helps figure that out.  

Since Words Their Way depends so heavily on word sorts, I have been trying to think of a way to work that is easy for me and harder for my students.  Mean aren't I!!!  There are books with picture sorts that go with the program that I am thinking about ordering a few at a time, but I also thought I might just use this sheet that I made.

Here is how I plan to use them:

I hope this helps!

Hello Blog World! I am back!

I know you missed me!  You can go ahead and admit it!

Blogging had to go on the back burner for a bit as life got busy!  I am in the middle of doing 3 assessments (Words Their Way for spelling, Fountas and Pinnell Benchmarking, and a Writing Assessment) and got overwhelmed with all of them going on.

I've started looking for websites that would be great to use during Daily 5....for kids to read by themselves, with a partner, word work, and to listen to reading.  Writing I can handle.  So, if you have any great websites that you use with your students in 2nd grade to there-abouts, please leave them in the content section.

I am working on taking pictures of my classroom.  I had everything fixed just write and then got 8 new students and had to work on changing again.  In fact, my room is going to be undergoing another change this weekend as I make room for the huge cart that the music teacher must push around.  She is having a hard time getting her cart in and out with my floor plan as it is.

I hope to start sharing all of the fun things I have been doing and planning soon....there is just NOT ENOUGH TIME!!!!

Not to mention that I have a couple of fiery kids this year, so I had to totally invent a new behavior contract to use and it seems to be working. 

Thanks for coming back by....I know it has been a bit slow lately!

Conducting Word Sorts

Words Their Way
Click here to access more info!

This past semester I have been trying to inch my way into using the book Words Their Way:  Word Study For Phonics Vocabulary, and Spelling Instruction for my RTI group.  I have used word sorts and games for years (which is the primary recommendation) so I have felt comfortable forging ahead on my own and trying to read the book along the way.  Well, now that the semester is over, I have finally had a chance to read some of the book.  There are several ideas that the authors included in the book about ways to conduct word sorts.  They recommend modeling a sort in whole group, then having the kids help you sort the words in whole group, then sorting them as a component of your guided reading group, and then finally, moving it into an independent work station.  This follows Pearson and Gallegher's theory of Gradual Release of Responsibility.

Several years ago, when I first started teaching I was included in a group of teachers that were trained in the SAIL Program, a program loosely based on Marie Clay's research, which was developed by Dr. Darrell Morris from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina.  We spent 30 minutes a day, one-on-one, with a student who reread books to us, read a new book, reviewed sight words, did a word sort, and then the student created and dictated a sentence that he or she wrote down.  The improvements made were awesome, but funding was soon cut...how long can a program where a teacher spends 30 minutes daily with one student be sustained?  Well....apparently only one semester.  After that semester, the program was adapted to use small groups which lessened the improvements of the students slightly,  but still worked.  This was a precursor to what guided reading is today.

 I can remember Dr. Morris instilling in us that there was a huge need for students to read every word that was put into the sort every time a new card was put down.  For example, if students are sorting short and long vowels which focus on the A, every time a card is put down in the short a category, all of the short a cards should be read, and the same for the long a.  In his words we were 'increasing fluency and recognition' of new vocabulary and sight words while also using CVC, CVCV, and CVVC patterns.  I owe Darrell Morris a lot....if not for him, I would not know all that I know now.  The things that he taught our group are still being used by us today because it helped form the building blocks of our own theories of literacy and reading development and have motivated me to continue my own research along the way.

Today, the torch has been passed down to other researchers.  In fact, one of the authors of Words Their Way, is Shane Templeton, a good friend of Dr. Morris.  In fact, my first copy of the book was given to me by Dr. Morris way back in 1998.  Since then, there have been several revised editions, but the main message of the book has stayed the same:  SORT THOSE WORDS!!!

While reading through this edition of the book, I found a page where different types of sorts are listed.  I had never put much thought into types of sorts...I just knew that I needed to do them.  Over the years, I have stuck mainly with sorts based on vowels, digraphs, blends, etc.  However, this time, when I saw the list of different sorts, I was enlightened.  The authors recommend category sorts (fruits vs. veggies), sorts take from vocabulary from a picture book being used in a classroom, sorts based on the historical basis of words (greek/latin roots), sorts that the students illustrate before sorting, sorts that students develop on their own, sorts based on subject area (social studies words vs. science words) and sorts that use dictation.  It was like opening a huge box of ideas!

There are also other types of sorts that can be done using 'Read Around the Room', or bottles of colored rice with words hidden in them that the students must find, or interactive flip charts for Smart boards where the students are able to move the words on the screen.

I can't help but be excited as I get ready to lay out my 3rd nine weeks plan.  My word sorts will become more varied, more differentiated, and more higher level because I have actually had the time to read through this newest edition!  Also, there is a bonus CD included that gives you 6 months of access to their on-line website which includes printables and smart board lessons.  I can't wait to have more time to explore this option.   Also, on this website, videos are included which can be watched and used as professional development.....basically, some of the lessons are modeled for you!!

This is one book that I highly recommend for teachers interested in using BEST PRACTICES 4 TEACHING!!!

Also, JUST FOR YOU, I created this activity for you to download and use in your classroom! Just click on the link!  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shake-It-Up-Baby-Word-Sort-for-CH-SH-TH-and-WH


Take care!
Jenn

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