WHAT IF YOU HAD THE DREAM WORD STUDY SCHEDULE?!
With this customizable word study schedule + free resources to try, word study can run like a fine-tuned orchestra!
HELLO THERE, TEACHER FRIEND!
I think it’s pretty cool that you are thinking about ways to improve your word study routines!
We’d love it if all of our students came to us already knowing how to spell well, am I right?!
I am a huge proponent of implementing differentiated word study programs in upper elementary classrooms.
Why? Here are just three of the many reasons I think differentiated word study programs are important for our students:
👉 We know that we have a wide range of spelling abilities in our upper elementary classrooms and that students are not on the same level in their word study and spelling development.
💜 A differentiated program helps students fill in the gaps in their learning of phonics, spelling, and how words work. Differentiated spelling routines put spelling success within students’ zone of proximal development.
👉 While spelling is often a minimalized instructional piece in upper elementary classrooms, students’ spelling abilities can be one of the most stigmatizing factors in their academic performance. Students who have difficulty spelling well may resist writing during your writer’s workshop or other content-area writing activities.
💜 The idea that all students are working to understand words better and become better spellers normalizes not knowing how to spell all words—no matter what level students start from.
👉 Unlocking the way words work (by studying patterns and sounds) can improve students’ word attack abilities when reading. Through word study, students can also improve in phonics, word recognition, and vocabulary. Again, we want to meet students where they are by providing instruction at or right above their level.
💜 We all want our students to become better readers—especially those with limited phonics, word recognition, and vocabulary skills.
How long does it take to make a difference in our students’ attitudes and abilities toward spelling?
Can you believe that a word study routine of 15-20 minutes 3-5 times a week can positively affect your students? It’s true!
I’m here to share the word study schedules that worked for me and my students—perhaps you’ll see why word study quickly became one of my teacher obsessions!
Let’s get on to some sample word study schedules!
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7 day cycle – word study schedules
WHAT CHANGES FROM THE TRANSITIONAL TO THE TARGET SCHEDULE?
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In the transition from First Quarter to the Target Schedule, Syllables and Affixes and Derivational Relations groups add in Partner/Independent Games and Activities to their schedule and no longer have word sorts or a catch up day.
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If you want the Syllables and Affixes and Derivational Relations groups to continue to have a catch up and word sort day, you can exchange one Game Day for Catch Up and Word Sorting.
9 day cycle – word study schedules
This 9 Day Schedule includes a Writer’s Notebook day where students go through a page or two of an entry in their writer’s notebook to look for misspelled words. Students can write directly on their writing sample (circling misspelled words and writing the correct spelling above) or use a sticky note to jot down the correct spellings and attach it to the page. A writer’s notebook is simply a composition notebook that students use during our writer’s workshop to free write, work on drafts, etc. If you do not plan to include Writer’s Notebook day, you’ll have an 8 day schedule using this plan.
WHAT CHANGES FROM THE TRANSITIONAL TO THE TARGET SCHEDULE?
In the transition from First Quarter to the Target Schedule, Syllables and Affixes and Derivational Relations groups add in Partner/Independent Games and Activities to their schedule.
THE (free) RESOURCES
Would you like to customize your own word study schedule using the templates above?
I’ve created a schedule that you can customize in Google Slides. Just click here or the button below to grab your own copy of this schedule. The link will prompt you to make a copy for yourself.
Then, when you’re ready to add activities to your word study routine, you can check out these free samples! The free resources are aligned to the 3rd Edition word sort books (published 2018).
DISCOVERY WORD SEARCHES
Give word study word searches a test drive with these free word searches for Sorts 1-4 for each level of Words Their Way. Click this link or the button below to view the Discovery Word Searches for: Letter-Name Alphabetic Spellers, Within Word Pattern Spellers, Syllables and Affixes Spellers, and Derivational Relations Spellers. Each PDF will open in a new window. If you wish to download these to your computer, use the arrow in the right corner.
WORD STUDY NOTEBOOK ACTIVITIES
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