Word Work
Word Work, or Working with Words, is a different approach to spelling and writing English words. I also believe it is a more effective and purposeful approach to understanding English words and their spelling(s).
Whereas conventional spelling requires students to memorise words in isolation, Word Work engages students to:
Below, you'll find resources that we use in our classroom. You are welcome to print these resources at home to further your child's development of essential word recognition and word creation skills.
Whereas conventional spelling requires students to memorise words in isolation, Word Work engages students to:
- Focus on the correct spelling of high-frequency (i.e., "used a lot") and irregularly-spelled (i.e., "don't follow the rule") words.
- Decode and spell one- and two-syllable words based on words they already know.
- Develop a visual checking system to determine "what looks right" and learn to use a dictionary when they are unsure of word patterns to use.
- Recognise root words and use prefixes, suffixes, and spelling changes to correctly spell poly-syllabic words.
- Use cross-checking while reading, and a visual checking system while writing, to apply what they learn to read and write in meaningful ways.
Below, you'll find resources that we use in our classroom. You are welcome to print these resources at home to further your child's development of essential word recognition and word creation skills.
Making Words
In our classroom, we use letters in different patterns and combinations, drawing upon our previous experience and knowledge of words and word patterns, to build words based upon clues given.
For example, using these letters:
a i b d h r t y
students are given a clue to make a word, using only the letters provided for the day's lesson:
"This word is begins with the letter h and is the antonym of 'soft'."
In their minds, students decode the clue: what is a word that means the opposite of soft, begins with the letter h, and contains words from my pile? The moment students recognise the word is clearly visible: their eyes light up and they gasp excitedly!
Students know that once they have made the word successfully, they allow others to have the same experience. Students volunteer to demonstrate the "Making Words" process by making the word using large letters displayed on the whiteboard at the front of the classroom. Then the next clue is given to form a new word, with words becoming more challenging as the lesson progresses.
To conclude each Making Words session, students are challenged to make the 'mystery word' using all the letters provided.
For example, using these letters:
a i b d h r t y
students are given a clue to make a word, using only the letters provided for the day's lesson:
"This word is begins with the letter h and is the antonym of 'soft'."
In their minds, students decode the clue: what is a word that means the opposite of soft, begins with the letter h, and contains words from my pile? The moment students recognise the word is clearly visible: their eyes light up and they gasp excitedly!
Students know that once they have made the word successfully, they allow others to have the same experience. Students volunteer to demonstrate the "Making Words" process by making the word using large letters displayed on the whiteboard at the front of the classroom. Then the next clue is given to form a new word, with words becoming more challenging as the lesson progresses.
To conclude each Making Words session, students are challenged to make the 'mystery word' using all the letters provided.
Students' Letters
Word Wall
Our classroom features a large wall on which our high-frequency and often-misspelled words are displayed. These words are non-negotiable; because they are displayed and easily visible in our classroom environment, students must spell them correctly in their everyday writing.
Each month, we focus upon a set of Word Wall words, using rhythm, chanting, and music to memorise their (irregular and sometimes irrational) spelling.
For work at home, it's helpful to have a copy of our Word Wall at your fingertips. In this way, students will have access to a list of the same words displayed in our classroom.
Each month, we focus upon a set of Word Wall words, using rhythm, chanting, and music to memorise their (irregular and sometimes irrational) spelling.
For work at home, it's helpful to have a copy of our Word Wall at your fingertips. In this way, students will have access to a list of the same words displayed in our classroom.
What Looks Right?
Students are often better spellers than they realise. Because they read hundreds, if not thousands, of words each day, they are regularly exposed to correctly spelled words. Often, students have a built-in system for determining whether a word spelled using two (or more) different patterns "looks right". When in doubt, students know that they may refer to a dictionary to help them. This is an essential skill to develop, as some words (such as "stake" and "steak") use words patterns that sound alike ("ake" and "eak"), and are correctly spelled. Students must determine the definition of each word before they know which word is appropriate for their writing.
After we engage in a "What Looks Right?" lesson, students are given copies of these "What Looks Right?" Spelling Reference Sheets. You are welcome to print them at home so that you and your child may refer to them when writing at home.
After we engage in a "What Looks Right?" lesson, students are given copies of these "What Looks Right?" Spelling Reference Sheets. You are welcome to print them at home so that you and your child may refer to them when writing at home.
Sheets to Print
What Looks Right: ace / ase
What Looks Right: aid / ade
What Looks Right: air / are / ear
What Looks Right: ear / eer
What Looks Right: eed / ead
What Looks Right: eel / eal
What Looks Right: eep / eap
What Looks Right: eet / eat
What Looks Right: ite / ight
What Looks Right: le / el / al
What Looks Right: oal / ole / oll
What Looks Right: oan / one / own
What Looks Right: oat / ote
What Looks Right: tion / sion
What Looks Right: ue / ew / oo
What Looks Right: aid / ade
What Looks Right: air / are / ear
What Looks Right: ear / eer
What Looks Right: eed / ead
What Looks Right: eel / eal
What Looks Right: eep / eap
What Looks Right: eet / eat
What Looks Right: ite / ight
What Looks Right: le / el / al
What Looks Right: oal / ole / oll
What Looks Right: oan / one / own
What Looks Right: oat / ote
What Looks Right: tion / sion
What Looks Right: ue / ew / oo