Word Study
Well, it took me four full years of teaching third grade to finally come up with what I feel like is my most useful "Word Study" program yet. I've taken a lot of tips & hints from a third grade teacher I follow on Scholastic's blog (Beth Newingham) and we have put into place a similar program to the one she uses in her classroom.
For me, the main problem I've had with spelling is that having a list of words to memorize, with a pretest and final test isn't necessarily showing that the student knows how to spell. Instead, it is showing whether or not he or she can memorize well. I have begun to incorporate a lot of phonics instruction into the class's word work, but still haven't found the best way to assess progress in the area of spelling...until now.
Here is how our Word Study program works.
For me, the main problem I've had with spelling is that having a list of words to memorize, with a pretest and final test isn't necessarily showing that the student knows how to spell. Instead, it is showing whether or not he or she can memorize well. I have begun to incorporate a lot of phonics instruction into the class's word work, but still haven't found the best way to assess progress in the area of spelling...until now.
Here is how our Word Study program works.
Preassessment
At the beginning of the school year, I'll be using some spelling inventories to assess each student's individual progress in the area of phonetic spelling and high-frequency word memorization. Based on these results, I will begin to group students according to the spelling stage that best fits them. There will be a group that works solely on how to fit letters together correctly to reach a specific sound, and a group that has already mastered that and will be working on a more challenging version of this skill. The point of this is to make sure I'm meeting children where they're at, in terms of spelling skills.
Weekly Work Study Work
Monday ~ Students will take a 10-word pretest of words that follow the spelling pattern we will be studying for the week. Based on performance on this pretest, students will be given a 10-word list for the week, either the regular list or the challenge list.
Tuesday-Thursday ~ Students will work with several different words within the spelling pattern we are studying. This word work will take place in word study stations, individual and group practice, and whole-class instruction. Students will be responsible for the words on their 10-word list on the Friday final test. Besides the 10 words they are assigned, they will also have five high-frequency words to memorize throughout the week. These will be individualized word lists, as some students struggle with different words.
Friday ~ Final Test: the final test will include the 10 pattern words and the five high-frequency words that students have been studying all week. There will also be 10 words from the spelling pattern that are unknown to the student. This way I will be able to assess whether or not the student has actually mastered the spelling pattern.
Following Monday ~ Students will add missed words to their "My Words to Study" page of their Word Study folder and will add mastered words to their high-frequency word list.
Tuesday-Thursday ~ Students will work with several different words within the spelling pattern we are studying. This word work will take place in word study stations, individual and group practice, and whole-class instruction. Students will be responsible for the words on their 10-word list on the Friday final test. Besides the 10 words they are assigned, they will also have five high-frequency words to memorize throughout the week. These will be individualized word lists, as some students struggle with different words.
Friday ~ Final Test: the final test will include the 10 pattern words and the five high-frequency words that students have been studying all week. There will also be 10 words from the spelling pattern that are unknown to the student. This way I will be able to assess whether or not the student has actually mastered the spelling pattern.
Following Monday ~ Students will add missed words to their "My Words to Study" page of their Word Study folder and will add mastered words to their high-frequency word list.
Word Study Folders
In each student's desk, there will be a word study folder to keep all of his or her word work in. In one pocket, the student will keep their spelling list for the week and the high-frequency word notebook, to note his or her word list for the week. In a second pocket will be the students individualized high-frequency word list. In the third pocket, a "My Words to Study" page of missed spelling words (to be used on review weeks). In the last pocket, students will keepword work assignments for the week. An "at-home" spelling list will come home in your student's Viking Folder for studying, as well.