*This post contains affiliate links. To read more, please see my full disclosure policy.
For the next two weeks, I’m honored to be joining 39 other bloggers in iHomeschool Network’s Hopscotch! I’ll spend 10 days showing how effective Word Study is in teach spelling. I have used word study in the classroom, as a private reading tutor, and now as a homeschooling mom! It is ideal for one child or multiple children! You can read more about word study yourself in Words Their Way: Word Study for Phonics, Vocabulary, and Spelling Instruction.
Teaching Spelling Through Word Study Topics for Each Day:
- Day 1: What Exactly is Word Study?
- Day 2: The Stages of Spelling Development
- Day 3: Invented Spelling: What the Errors Tell Us
- Day 4: Where Do I Start?
- Day 5: Word Sorts: The Heart of Word Study
- Day 6: How to Introduce a Word Sort
- Day 7: Daily Routines with Word Sorts
- Day 8: FUN with Word Patterns
- Day 9: What About Those Irregular Words? (FREEIBE Included)
- Day 10: Word Study: It’s WAY More Than Phonics!
More Resources for Teaching Spelling:
My goal in writing this ebook was two-fold: (1) to help parents understand how spellers develop in learning to spell so that spelling instruction can be developmentally appropriate and (2) to provide strategies for teaching spelling in explicit and hands-on ways. (You won’t find worksheets or boring drills included!)
- Short Vowels Word Study App {purchase for $2.99}
- Using Words Their Way to Teach Spelling
- Free Printable Resource for the most common single syllable vowel patterns
- Learning to Spell with Word Families
- A Better Way to Teach Spelling
- Sight Word Pinterest Board
- Word Study/Phonics Pinterest Board
Enjoy!
~Becky
Understanding how to spell is vitally important, especially for our young readers and writers. Taking the time to study spelling words provides an amazing support for learning to read. But often times, spelling is taught as a list of rules to learn (with a long list of exceptions) or as haphazard words to memorize. Instead of focusing on how different our English words are, why not group them together according to how similar they are?
Word Study is spelling approach in which words are grouped and studied according to their similarities. Similar words are analyzed in a hands-on, developmentally appropriate fashion, helping kids to make sense of how words are constructed in the English language (our language is more regular than you might expect).
Learn How to Spell with Word Sorts
At the heart of the word study approach are word sorts. Words are studied that share a common feature. In this example with my 3rd grader, we studied words with the endings of -ed and -ing. In this particular case, I chose the words directly from his reading and wrote them on the blank word sort template in the back of Words Their Way. He cut them out and we sorted the words together, based on what was done to the base word before adding the endings -ed and -ing.
Once the words were sorted into their columns, I posed this problem to him: Why do you think we double the last letter in some base words before we add -ing and -ed and then do nothing to other base words? We analyzed the base words in each column together. We talked about what was similar about all the base words under the “nothing” category and again in the “double” column.
Together, we created a generalization (or rule) of why the last letters of base words should or shouldn’t be doubled. I stated, “If our generalization is true, then it should work for other base words, too.” We took a word walk through the book and found even more words that fit under each column (looking for common features).
Word Sorts for All Ages
Word sorts are a hands-on way to teach kids how to spell, starting with preschoolers all the way through high school. These sorts are adapted as picture sorts (for the very young) or word meaning sorts (with Greek and Latin word parts for older students). Words Their Way has several word sorting books, which you can read about here, that fit any stage of spelling development.
I’m also SUPER EXCITED to have the opportunity to launch a series of spelling apps, based on the word study approach. Our first app is called Short Vowel Word Study and features word sorts among other spelling activities for word families and longer short vowel words. Our next project is already in the making, with a Long Vowel Word Study app, so stay tuned!
Short Vowel Word Study app is available on iTunes or Google Play for $2.99.
{iTunes links is an affiliate link}
Learning how to spell takes time and diligence. But I believe that it is a worthy investment for all our learners, from preschool to high school!
Becky Spence is a blogger, author, speaker, and coffee drinker. She homeschools four little blessings who keep her on her feet (and knees). She is the author of This Reading Mama, where she shares lots of reading and writing activities as well as free literacy curricula and printables. Her two favorite places to hang out are Facebook and Instagram.
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- Word Study Spelling Activities to Use With Any Words
Spelling Activities for any list of words
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Spelling Activities
for any list of words
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CENTER SIGNS & ACTIVITY PAGESSilly Sentences. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5pyramid words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7alphabetical order. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9spelling story. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11squiggly words. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13colorful vowels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15bubble letters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17acrostic poems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19spelling addition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21spelling shapes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
REPRODUCIBLE PAGESrhymes with . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25spelling code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26ups and downs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27colorful words. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28fancy words. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29syllable sort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
HandS-On IDEAS
Playdough: • Have the children roll playdough snakes and form letters to spell the word or put out alphabet
cookie cutters and cut the letters out.
Wiki Sticks: • Bend the sticks to form letters
Pipe Cleaners: • Same as the wikisticks
Stamps: • Put out a stamp pad and letter stamps.
Painting: • Students use watercolors to paint their words.• Another option is to use a paint brush and water and paint them onto construction paper.
Sand/Salt Trays: • Students use their finger to write their words in sand or salt and shake back to do it again.
Shaving Cream: • Squirt a little on the desk. Spread it around. Write the words with a finger.
Pudding: • Same as shaving cream, but much yummier.
Magnet Letters: • Spell words on a cookie sheet, file cabinet, desk, or other metal surface.
Scrabble Tiles: • Have the children build words and add up their value.
Silly Sentencesd
•Write a silly sentences for each spelling word.•Underline your spelling words.•If time allows, you may illustrate your sentences.
Sample: The dog danced on the kitchen table.
Name:___________________ Date:________
Silly SentencesCopy your spelling words into the box below. Write a silly sentences for each spelling word.
Underline your spelling words. Illlustrate your sentences.
Illustration Sentence
Illustration Sentence
© www.ClutterFreeClassroom.blogspot.com
— 5 —
Illustration Sentence
Illustration Sentence
Illustration Sentence
Illustration Sentence
© www.ClutterFreeClassroom.blogspot.com
— 6 —
© www.ClutterFreeClassroom.blogspot.com- 7 —
Pyramid Words•Write the first letter of a spelling word.•Write the first 2 letters on the line below.•Write the first 3 letters on the line under that.•Continue until the word is complete.•Draw a pyramid around your word.
pp y
p y rp y r a
p y r a mp y r a m i
p y r a m i d
Name:___________________ Date:________
Pyramid Words
Write the first letter of your spelling word. Write the first two letters on the line below.Write the first three letters on the line below that. Continue until the word is complete.
Draw a triangle around the pyramid.
© www.ClutterFreeClassroom.blogspot.com- 8 —
pp y
p y rp y r a
p y r a mp y r a m i
p y r a m i d
© www.ClutterFreeClassroom.blogspot.com- 9 —
Alphabetical Orderd
•Write your words in alphabetical order.•Write your words in backwards alphabetical order.
Name:___________________ Date:________
Alphabetical OrderWrite your words in alphabetical order and then write them in reverse alphabetical order.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A to Z Z to A
© www.ClutterFreeClassroom.blogspot.com- 10 —
Silly Story•Write a silly story using all of your words.•Underline each of your words.
Name:___________________ Date:________
Silly Story•Write a silly story using all of your words.•Underline each of your words.
-12-
Squiggle WordsWrite each spelling word two times.
The first time write it in your best handwriting.The second time write it using squiggly letters.
Name:___________________ Date:________
Squiggle Words Write each spelling word two times. The first time write it in your best handwriting. The second time write it using squiggly letters.
Copy your words here. Write each word in your best handwriting.
Write each word using squiggle letters.
© www.CFClassroom.com-14-
Colorful VowelsWrite EACH of your spelling words neatly in your best handwriting.
Trace over ALL the vowels in each word with a colored pencil.
Vowels = A E I O U
Name:___________________ Date:________
Colorful VowelsWrite EACH of your spelling words neatly in your best handwriting.
Trace over ALL the vowels in each word with a colored pencil.
Vowels = A E I O U
©www.CFClassroom.com-16-
Bubble LettersWrite your spelling words in bubble letters.
After you write them all, color them in with a crayon or a colored pencil.
THESE ARE
BUBBLE LETTERS
Name:___________________ Date:________
Bubble LettersWrite your spelling words in bubble letters.
After you write them all, color them in with a crayon or a colored pencil.
-18-© www.CFClassroom.com
Acrostic PoemsChoose a spelling words.
Write an acrostic poem for that word. You must also ILLUSTRATE your poem.
Example: CAT
Claws are sharp
As they scratch
To get in the house
Name:___________________ Date:________
Acrostic PoemChoose a spelling words. Write an acrostic poem for that word.
You must also ILLUSTRATE your poem. Create other poems for additional words.
-20-© www.CFClassroom.com
Spelling AdditionAdd up each spelling word.
*Consonants are worth 10* *Vowels are worth 5*
Examples- Said: 10 + 5 + 5 + 10 = 30
There: 10 + 10 + 5 + 10 + 5 = 40
Name:___________________ Date:________
Spelling AdditionAdd up each spelling word. *Consonants are worth 10*
*Vowels are worth 5*
Examples- Said: 10 + 5 + 5 + 10 = 30
There: 10 + 10 + 5 + 10 + 5 = 40
-22-© www.CFClassroom.com
Spelling ShapesCopy each of your spelling words neatly.
Then go back and draw a circle around the consonantsand a square around the vowels.
Example: p e a c h
Name:___________________ Date:________
Spelling ShapesCopy each of your spelling words neatly.
Then go back and draw a circle around the consonantsand a square around the vowels.
-24-© www.CFClassroom.com
Name:___________________ Date:________
Rhymes With…Write each of your spelling words. Draw a circle around them.Create a web of rhyming words that stem from the word.
SAMPLE:
! !
-25-© www.CFClassroom.com
cathat
satsplat
Name:___________________ Date:________
Spelling CodeCreate a code for each letter of the alphabet.Write your spelling words using that code.
SAMPLE:
A= B = C=A B c d e f g h i j k l m
n o p q r s t u v w x y z
-26-© www.CFClassroom.com
Name:___________________ Date:________
Ups & DownsWrite each word across and down sharing the same first letter.
SAMPLE:
! APPLE! P! P! L! E
-27-© www.CFClassroom.com
Name:___________________ Date:________
Colorful WordsWrite each word in pencil.
Trace over the words with differenct colored pencils or markers.
-28-© www.CFClassroom.com
Name:___________________ Date:________
Fancy WordsWrite each word in pencil.
Copy it again using fancy writing by adding dots, lines or swirls.
-29-© www.CFClassroom.com
Name:___________________ Date:________
Syllable SortWrite each word in the correct column according to the number of syllables.
1 syllable 2 syllables 3 syllables 4 syllables
-30-© www.CFClassroom.com
Word Study Resources are plentiful, but sometimes they confuse the point of instruction or they are mere worksheets! In this quick read, I want to share 3 helpful resources to help you build stronger readers and writers with early readers and transitional readers.
But first, a quick definition of word study.
Our friends over at Reading Rockets say, “Word study” is an alternative to traditional spelling instruction. It is based on learning word patterns rather than memorizing unconnected words. This article describes the word study approach.”
The only thing I’d change to this definition is “spelling instruction”. Word study is so much more than just spelling! It all types of word knowledge: meaning, structure, usage, etc.
(Photo Courtesy of Gift Habeshaw)
What is Word Study?
Word Study is:
- Recognizing patterns in word sounds.
- Recognizing and using conventional spelling patterns.
- Finding connections between word meanings.
- Analyzing words based on word parts and roots.
If you’d like more detailed information on the research and science behind word study, I recommend this page from our sister site: Spiral WarmUps, Knowledge Base.
Word Study Resources
Let’s jump into this! What are some word study resources that are engaging and that are more than mere worksheets?
Real resources that engage students, are simple to use, and get results for reading and writing? That’s what I’m sharing with you here – 3 word study resources:
- Context Clues Strategies
- Free Spelling Videos
- Word Work from Jennifer Serravallo
Context Clues
First on the list is a set of word meaning strategies for teaching context clues. In this article, you’ll see How to Teach Context Clues. I love this resource because it really is a set of strategies you can use with any text, any material, and for any age group!
5 Ways to Teach Context Clues
Free Spelling Review
This warm-up website is full of word study resources and has paid memberships, but there’s also a free membership (not just a trial) that has more than enough warm-ups for spelling review to last almost an entire school year! It’s SpiralWarmUps.com.
Here are three of the free spelling units you can start using today with your students. I really think you’ll love how students engage with this word study resource.
Spelling 1
This is a 10-day unit for 2nd and 3rd graders who need practice with vowels, digraphs, and consonant blends. It features a variety of activities all in an online video format!
Spelling 1 Advanced
This is another 10-day unit that builds on the previous one but is geared more to 3rd- and 4th-grade spelling problems:
- spelling vowel digraphs,
- consonant digraphs, and
- consonant blends.
Spelling 3
There are more advanced units that teach how to spelling multi-syllabic words, including:
- compound words,
- prefixes, and
- words with suffixes.
But Spelling 3 is worth mentioning here because it really targets those missing skills for transitional readers who have spelling challenges in grades 3-5. Spelling 3 focuses on inflected endings and double consonants.
Explore this Free Spelling Resource at SpiralWarmUps.com.
The Reading Strategies Book
Yes, most of this amaaaazing book is for reading strategies, which I think you’ll really love! But the third chapter is dedicated to word study resources, activities, and lesson ideas. Or as Jennifer Serravallo calls it, “Supporting Print Work: Increasing Accuracy and Integrating Sources of Information”
Yikes, that’s a mouthful!
It’s not so much a material to use like the word study videos above. It’s more of lesson plans/activities to do. Here are a few activities from the third chapter that I think you’ll love!
- Try, Try, Try Again: this strategy is for when you get to a trick word. It also offers you almost a dozen questions to ask readers as they attempt to decode.
- Think (While You Read the Words): You’ll love the anchor chart on this one! It combines decoding and monitoring for meaning.
- Apply Your Word Study to Book Reading: This is really where word study connects to reading! See the image below.
Explore the Reading Strategies Book on Amazon*
*Amazon Affiliate
It’s Your Turn!
If you made it this far, I really appreciate you reading! What are some word study resources that you love?
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Scroll down below the related posts and leave a comment about word study resources. Thanks!
PSPKK12363 Comments
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
UPDATE:
The original blog post at this link was about the word study approach to teaching spelling. While the act of sorting words can be useful, I no longer believe that Words Their Way should be a core spelling curriculum because it does not include enough explicit instruction.
Stay tuned for a new series about teaching spelling in 2023!
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