Spelling, Phonics, and Vocabulary: Developing a Word Study Curriculum in a Workshop Classroom

[Notes from a Session with Katie Wears]
katie@readingandwritingproject.com
-Very, very, very accessible by email


Michael Graves
Isabel Beck

There isn't one program or approach out there that has everything you need to do.
Biggest challenge around word study:
-Kids don't transfer it to reading and writing


What is word study?

• Vocabulary
• Early literacy concepts
• Phonological awareness
• Letter knowledge (Uppercase/lowercase, shapes, etc.)
• Phonics (Can we done in the dark
• Letter sound relationships
• Spelling patterns
• High frequency words
• Word structure and meaning

What & Why?

Instruction & Practice

When do we teach Word Study? We don't only teach it during word study time!

• Word Study
• Shared Reading
• Interactive Writing
• Small Group Work
• Reading Workshop
• Writing Workshop

(Wonder why word study doesn't transfer? Maybe because we only teach it during a word study block)

Vocabulary:

Teaching Vocabulary to English Language Learners

Assessment:

-Talk

-Reading

-Writing

Developing Vocab in the Classroom:

• Provide rich and varied language experiences
• Foster word consciousness
• Teach individual words
• Teach word-learning strategies

1. Provide rich and varied language experiences

Lift the level of language with classroom jobs (Ex: Electrical Engineer, Concierge, Conductor, Sanitation Officer, Liaison, Nutritionist, etc.)

Kids always here people just giving directions. (Come to the carpet. Get your coat.)

-Use sophisticated language when giving directions. (Line up. Let's gather in the corridor.)

*Use a thesaurus!

I use: "Please join me up front." 

I could use: "Let's incorporate our class to the leading edge of the classroom." (Overkill?)

2. Foster word consciousness

Vocabulary word wall

Vocab. scoreboard

    -Pick 4 words (Implore, marvel, measure, stamina)

    -1 pt for saying

    -2 pts for using in writing

    -3 pts for finding in book

3. Teaching Word-Learning Strategies

Context clues

Word parts

Dictionaries

Cognates (family and la familia)

4. Teach Individual Words

(Isabel Beck)

High unitility words

CCSS

4,000 most frequently used words "Text project 4,000 word families"

Tier 1, 2, 3

Use paint chips from hardware store (word + synonym, then order from least spicy to most spicy)

8-10 words per week

Choosing words each week...

-Content area

-Vocab and Language Standards

-Units of Sutdy

Ex: Reading Unit: Character

Writing Unit: Narrative

Science Unit: Animals

Multiple exposures in multiple contexts

Definitions

Discuss what it is NOT

Compare and contrast with other words

Repeated practice -talk, act-out, role-play

Listening, speaking, reading, writing (Ken Pransky)

Read Aloud

ex: Ruthie and the Not So Teeny Tiny Lie by Laura Ranking

Before reading: lie (impacts understanding of the book)

During reading: courage

Whole class Conversations

Put up vocab words from the read aloud or words being studied and encourage use of them during the conversation

Prompts ot use to lift the level of vocab

Did you mean___ (generic) or __(more precise)?

Shared Reading and Shared Writing

Updated shared reading texts (ex: Change book heading from "Lighting Fire" to "Igniting Fire" with a Post-it)

Create a Story Center

Sorting Center

Joke Center

Reading Workshop

Phonics and Spelling

Words Their Way helps with one part of word work

Assessments:
-Concepts about print

-Letter-Sound Identification

-Spelling Inventory

-Writing Samples

-Running Records

Instruction:

-Explicit Instruction in isolation

-Practice activity (in isolation)

-Practice activity (moving to context)

-Explicit instruction (in context)

-High frequency word work activity

15 min a day

-Word sorts & partner sorts are in isolation

-Games should be part, but are still in isolation

-Word hunt helps kids move to context (books in bag, also in their writing notebook)

-Go back to writing folder and edit for that skill (During words study time and writing workshop time)

     *One center might be writing workshop folder

Transfer to Reading (Small group or whole group)

-Shared reading

-Shared writing

Differentiation:

Reading Workshop