About Word Study
The 2nd grade uses the philosophy of the Words Their Way program, which focuses on comparing word patterns. Pre-testing determines the stage a student is currently at so appropriate lists can be assigned at that stage to promote the greatest growth. We first learn about sorting our words and the different Word Wizard choices students have to “work the words” each day. This initial instruction is stretched over a two-week period in order to teach all choices thoroughly. We will also stretch the routine over a two-week period the first half of the year and then when there is a short week due to a field trip or days off of school. some groups will work up to a routine of assigning and sorting a new list each Monday, “working the words” from the list of choices in the front of their journal Tuesday through Thursday, and then taking a spelling test on the computer at the Spelling City site on Fridays. New choices will be added each month to add variety to the routine.
After sorting the words in their word study journal, students keep their word list folded in their journal for easy reference for choice days. If students misplace their list, the sort from Monday can be used as a backup list. Word work and test grades are recorded in the back of the word study journal. Word Study homework is not assigned except to study for Friday’s spelling test. It would be helpful to read through the list several times each night for extra practice. Since Journals sent home sometimes do not come back the following day, Journals will NOT be sent home. SPELLING CITY Using Spelling City at home is completely optional. Students can log into their own Spelling City accounts to play learning games and take practice tests both at school and at home. Students can use the Teach Me option when they need help thinking of a sentence for their words at school and they love the games like Hang Mouse. Taking a practice test at Spelling City is a good idea the night before a Friday test; just remember to NOT take the real test at home. That should only be done at school. If a computer is not available at home a paper copy of the list will be sent home on the first day the list is assigned. |