Word Study

This year we will be using the Words Their Way program in our classroom. Students will be thinking critically about words and work on transferring their skills to reading and writing. The process of sorting words into categories is the heart of our word study program. When students sort words, they are engaged in the active process of searching, comparing, contrasting, and analyzing. The best part of a word study is that your student can sort words anywhere!

Below is a list of sorting activities. While I will not be collecting word study homework, I do encourage you to have your student complete a sorting activity each night at home. New sorts will be sent home with students (usually on Mondays) as they demonstrate that they are ready to move one.

Happy Sorting!

Closed Sort: Set up your headers to sort your words. Use your headers to sort your words.

Writing Sort: Write your headers at the top of a piece of paper. Shuffle your words. Draw one word card, then write that word under the correct header. Keep going until all of your words have been written.

Blind Writing Sort: Write your headers at the top of a piece of paper. Have a partner read a word to you without letting you see it. Write the word under the correct header. Keep going until all of the words have been written.

Speed Sort: Set up your headers and shuffle your words. Use a timer, then sort your words correctly and as quickly as you can. Record your times. Do this at least three times.

Word Hunt: Write your headers at the top of a piece of paper. Look through books, newspapers, and magazines to find words that would fit under your headers. When you find a word, write it under the correct header.