Word Study Grade 3 Philosophy of Word Study “Word study is most effective when you create echoes across time and curriculum. When a concept about words or letters is introduced during a word study mini-lesson, you should look for opportunities to reinforce that concept during other parts of the literacy block.” (Fountas and Pinnell, 2004)

Word Study in Grade 3 Agenda November 8, 2011   Introduction What Exactly is Word Study Workshop? Review the November Unit of Study How and Why Were the Word Study Units Created? How Can We Differentiate our Word Study? What Does Word Study Look Like in a Small Reading Group? Conclusion/Reflection/Next Steps

Why Teach Word Study? Word learning supports and expands students reading and writing of text. Third graders know simple and even some complex letter/sound relationships. They have a core of known words that help them read and write fluently but.. They are continuing to learn how words “work” in their reading and writing.

How Were Word Study Units Created? Units were created with a team of teachers, language arts specialists and district coordinator. Units are based on research (Fountas and Pinnell; Cunningham and Hall, Month by Month Phonics; Bear, et. al., Words Their Way). Designed to be consistent with Readers and Writers Workshop format. Intended to be differentiated based on student needs.

What Exactly Is Word Study Workshop? There are nine categories of word learning. One of them is spelling. Turn and talk to see if you can come up with some others. Monica and Mary Ellen Teachers discuss. Share out. Next slide

The Nine Categories Included in Word Work Early Literacy Concepts Phonological Concepts Letter Knowledge Letter/Sound Relationship Spelling Patterns High Frequency Words Word Meaning/Vocabulary Word Structure Word-solving Actions

Which categories do most of your students need? Early Literacy Concepts Phonological Concepts Letter Knowledge Letter/Sound Relationship Spelling Patterns High Frequency Words Word Meaning/Vocabulary Word Structure Word-solving Actions

Word Study for Grade 3 is primarily… Spelling Patterns High Frequency Words Word Meaning and Vocabulary Word Structure Word-Solving Actions As students become automatic with solving and recognizing words, their attention is freed to think about the more complex meaning of the texts they are reading and writing. Let’s take a look at the November unit. Now that we’ve identified the catergories. Let’s look across the unit. Tables will be assigned task of locating a lesson that falls under the above categories-except high frequency words. Share out. Teaching point…etc.

Differentiation When do we use whole group instruction? If most of your kids need it - teach it! 10 minute lesson When do we use small group? If most have control of it - skip it for the whole class. Teach it briefly within a reading/writing small group (2-3 minute word work practice) Colleen

How do we place word study in our small group time? In writing workshop, we work with small groups and confer with individuals. During this time we share brief word strategies. Small group instruction can incorporate a brief word lesson after reading a text. Remember: small group word work should be 2 to 3 minutes and can be incorporated in guided writing. Word work has the greatest impact when it is integrated into students’ writing and reading of text. Colleen

Sample Small Group Instruction Reread a familiar text (or portion of it). Introduce a new book or chapter (instructional level). Focus on specific teaching point. Practice word work or guided writing (based on previous observation in reading and writing). Connect word work lesson to word-solving strategy in reading and writing. Or focus on a conversation about comprehension. Distribute handout organizer of Small group instruction. Share sample on overhead-How an authentic error is used as a teachable moment. Overhead.

Wrapping Up Things to remember…. Word Work should be brief. (10 minutes as whole group and 2-3 minutes within small group, if needed.) Integrate word learning into students reading of text and writing pieces. Please fill out an individual Exit Slip. Thank you for coming! Someone needs to speak.. All together now!