Word Study Program
In grade 2, students engage in a word study program which includes the study of phonics, vocabulary and spelling instruction. We are using a program called, "Words Their Way," which is research driven and provides a developmental approach. It engages children in active critical thinking, comparing, contrasting and forming generalizations as they sort words into categories This contrasts traditional phonics and spelling programs that merely ask children to memorize relationships, rules and words.
Each week, students will receive a collection of spelling words that have been introduced in their word study group. The words can be sorted in to general categories that follow a particular rule (ex., make, snake have "e" at the end and makes the vowel say its own name). Every word sort will have some oddballs that don't follow this rule (ex., have, done). Students will participate in a variety of sorts, games and activities to reinforce these concepts throughout the week.
Students will still receive 5 focus words. These words are either Dolch Sight words, commonly misspelled/No Excuse word, or words they frequently use in their own writing. Their 5 focus words will be their own personal words. If they get one wrong that week, that same word will be on their list again the following week.Their 5 bonus words come from their weekly Word Work. Depending on what they are working on, this will vary from student to student. For example, if they are working of digraphs (th, sh, ch, etc), they will be working on digraphs through a series of activities throughout the week in the classroom. They will also take home their Word Work on Thursday to keep at home to practice. When they are tested on Thursday, they will be asked to spell words that contain digraphs. So if the word is, “thorn,” but they spell it, “thrn.” The word will still be marked correct, as I am looking for just digraphs that week.
Each Thursday, students will be tested on their 5 focus words and 5 bonus words to see if they are forming important generalizations about the patterns/rules that they have been studying. In addition, they will also have two sentences dictated to them.
In grade 2, students engage in a word study program which includes the study of phonics, vocabulary and spelling instruction. We are using a program called, "Words Their Way," which is research driven and provides a developmental approach. It engages children in active critical thinking, comparing, contrasting and forming generalizations as they sort words into categories This contrasts traditional phonics and spelling programs that merely ask children to memorize relationships, rules and words.
Each week, students will receive a collection of spelling words that have been introduced in their word study group. The words can be sorted in to general categories that follow a particular rule (ex., make, snake have "e" at the end and makes the vowel say its own name). Every word sort will have some oddballs that don't follow this rule (ex., have, done). Students will participate in a variety of sorts, games and activities to reinforce these concepts throughout the week.
Students will still receive 5 focus words. These words are either Dolch Sight words, commonly misspelled/No Excuse word, or words they frequently use in their own writing. Their 5 focus words will be their own personal words. If they get one wrong that week, that same word will be on their list again the following week.Their 5 bonus words come from their weekly Word Work. Depending on what they are working on, this will vary from student to student. For example, if they are working of digraphs (th, sh, ch, etc), they will be working on digraphs through a series of activities throughout the week in the classroom. They will also take home their Word Work on Thursday to keep at home to practice. When they are tested on Thursday, they will be asked to spell words that contain digraphs. So if the word is, “thorn,” but they spell it, “thrn.” The word will still be marked correct, as I am looking for just digraphs that week.
Each Thursday, students will be tested on their 5 focus words and 5 bonus words to see if they are forming important generalizations about the patterns/rules that they have been studying. In addition, they will also have two sentences dictated to them.