Word Study in the K-5 Classroom Presented by Elisabeth York & Sheena Wisnasky

Which is correct? Stationary or stationery Drunkeness or drunkenness Knowledgeable or knowledgable Occurrence or occurence or occurrance If these are difficult for you to figure out, imagine how your students feel. This is why word study is important!

Perspectives on Spelling Instruction Memorization- learning how to spell words letter by letter with rote practice “I know brain because I studied it all week.” Generalizations – learning spelling patterns that exist and can be applied to many words “I can spell train because I know how to spell rain and trap.”

Which is the better way to teach spelling? Children should receive direct instruction in word study on generalizations in spelling. However, rote memorization is sometimes needed to learn how to spell high frequency words like little, brother, were and what, that follow no specific spelling generalizations.

Stages of Spelling Development Stage 1 – Emergent Spellers Stage 2 – Letter Name-Alphabetic Spellers Stage 3 – Within Word Pattern Spellers Stage 4 – Syllables and Affixes Spellers Stage 5 – Derivational Relations Spellers Bear, D. R. et. al. (2004) Words Their Way: Word Study for Phonics, Vocabulary and Spelling Instruction. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc.

Emergent Spellers Develop concepts of print Early - pre-phonetic random markings Middle - letters not related to sound Late - some letters related to sound Examples: Dog Early Happy Rabbit Middle Like Late

Letter Name-Alphabetic Spelling Students begin to spell using the sound of the letter names: Example: ynt for went Early - students use mainly consonants Middle - they begin using long vowels because the letters say their name and are using but confusing short vowels Late - students begin recognizing blends and digraphs Examples: bd = bed mak = make nat = net brak = break EarlyMiddleLate

Within Word Pattern Spellers Early – spellers begin to use r-controlled vowels Middle – begin to pick up some long vowel patterns Late – begin learning some homophones and develop more knowledge of less frequently occurring long vowel patterns Examples: spase = space clowd = cloud vacashun = vacation EarlyMiddleLate

Syllables and Affixes Spellers Early – most inflections are mastered: -ed, -ing, -s Middle – students begin doubling consonants and double and e-drop Late – long vowel patterns in accented syllables Examples: hoping = hopping soccir = soccerinvutasion = invitation EarlyMiddleLate

Derivational Relations Spellers Students begin to examine common bases and roots in words. Latin and Greek derivations become more familiar. Examples: knowledgable = knowledgeable imature = immature sycology = psychology buffay = buffet

Where to Begin Spelling inventories! These are used to see what spelling stage students are currently at based on their zone of proximal development.

Spelling Inventory Teachers can choose from several inventories or can create their own. Inventories progress throughout the spelling levels. Primary, Elementary and Intermediate inventories are available in Words Their Way by Bear et al. We will examine some individual student inventories to see how they can be used for assessing children’s spelling and planning word study instruction.

Angela’s Spelling Angela’s Spellings 1. fan 2. pet 3. decdig 4. roberob 5. hobehope 6. wetwait 7. gomgum 8. sled 9. sekstick 10. shinshine 11. dremdream 12. bledblade 13. kachcoach 14. fitefright 15. chooingchewing 16. crolcrawl 17. weshswishes 18. thrnthorn 19. shatdeshouted 20. sblspoil

Angela – Middle Letter Name Alphabetic

Jessica’s Spelling Jessica’s Spellings 1. fan 2. pet 3. dig 4. rob 5. hope 6. watwait 7. gomgum 8. sled 9. stekstick 10. shinshine 11. dremdream 12. bladblade 13. cowchcoach 14. fritfright 15. chowing chewing 16. crallcrawl 17. weshisiswishes 18. thorn 19. sowted shouted 20. spoweyualspoil

Jessica – Middle Within Word Pattern

Christine’s Spelling Christine’s Spellings 1. fan 2. pet 3. big 4. rob 5. hope 6. waite wait 7. gum 8. sled 9. stick 10. shine 11. dream 12. blade 13. coach 14. fritefright 15. chowingchewing 16. cralcrawl 17. wishiswishes 18. thorn 19. shouted 20. spoylspoil

Christine – Late Within Word Pattern Speller

Class Composite

Word Study Groups

More Information This is just a brief overview of word study. Resources for more information by Bear, Invernizzi, Templeton and Johnston: – Words Their Way – Words Their Way: Letter and Picture Sorts for Emergent Spellers – Words Their Way: Word Sorts for Letter Name Alphabetic Spellers – Words Their Way: Word Sorts for Within Word Pattern Spellers – Words Their Way: Word Sorts for Syllables and Affixes Spellers – Words Their Way: Word Sorts for Derivational Relations Spellers