Words+Their+Way

Words Their Way Words Their Way is a program that Wiley has included in our School Improvement Plan to help students excel in spelling, phonics, and vocabulary study through word study. Traditional spelling word lists have been replaced by this concept of Word Study- spelling the word, recognizing word patterns, and analyzing the meaning of the words make the Word Study so much more valuable and allow for students to use a more extensive vocabulary in their own writing. This program provides a process of assessments that help teachers indentify the right activities for each individual student. All K-3 teachers at Wiley are using this program, so from grade level to grade level your child will be familiar with the word study routine. The K-3 teachers have had incredible success with this program. Since teachers assess the students’ word knowledge frequently and keep a running inventory, students are always are working on their own tailor made development level groups in word study. Your child’s inventory will be reviewed in both conferences each school year.

Do understand kindergarteners are only expected to reach the late emergent/early letter name-alphabetic stages by the end of kindergarten. However, every child progresses at a different rate so that is why this program is student paced.

Additionally, some weeks for homework, you will receive a copy of the specific word sort you child in working on. This will let you know what they are currently working on in school, as well. They may be pictures, words and pictures, or just words. Look at the headings on the sheets the child should sort the words according to their patterns. For example, if the headings said “s” and “f” and there was a picture of a snowman, the student would put the picture of the snowman beneath the “s” heading. Please practice sorting these words/pictures with your child.  If you have any questions let me know. Let’s create some great spellers!!

-Ms. Ross  Developmental Spelling Stages: Emergent Stage- Letter Identification, Initial Consonants, Final Consonants

Letter Name- Alphabetic Stage- Final Consonants, Short Vowels, Digraphs (like sh), Blends (like sl-)

Within Word Pattern Stage- Blends, Long Vowel Patterns, Other Vowels (like -ew)

Syllables and Affixes- Other Vowels, Inflected Endings (like –ed), Syllable Junctures (like –rr-), Unaccented Final Syllables (like –er)

Derivational Relations- Harder Suffixes (like –ure), Bases or Roots (like civil-), Affixes (like –ance), Reduced Vowels in Unaccented Syllables (like –min-), Greek and Latin Elements (like –arch-), Assimilated Prefixes (like mm)