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PSPKK12322 Comments

Word sort activities

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The original blog post at this link was about the word study approach to teaching spelling. While the act of sorting words can be useful, I no longer believe that Words Their Way should be a core spelling curriculum because it does not include enough explicit instruction.

Stay tuned for a new series about teaching spelling in 2023!

Free Spelling Games

Get this fun variety of sample spelling games from the membership site! The download includes resources for spelling CVCE words, long vowel teams, and multi-syllable words.

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Filed Under: Spelling Tagged With: word study, first grade, second grade, third grade, kindergarten

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Reader Interactions

22 Comments

  1. Lesley

    December 2, 2019 at 3:15 pm

    I am a new ESL teacher and am looking for pictures to go along with your word lists for the different vowel sounds/combinations. Any suggestions for workbooks or pictures that I can laminate to use with word lists to help my students make the connections? Thank you!!

    Reply to this comment
    • Anna G

      December 4, 2019 at 6:34 am

      If you are using them for your own purposes only, you can get print pictures you find online. If you’re going to share them, you’ll probably need to purchase them… I get my clip art on Teachers Pay Teachers. I’m sorry that I don’t know of a workbook to suggest!

      Reply to this comment
  2. Jaime

    May 14, 2017 at 9:23 pm

    Hi There,

    Which book do I start with for the “Words their Way”? I used the primary spelling test and my child needs help with the “Long Vowel Patterns”.

    Thanks,
    Jaime

    Reply to this comment
    • Anna Geiger

      May 28, 2017 at 3:24 pm

      So sorry for the delay in answering your question, Jaime! If your daughter is working on long vowel patterns, you would find this book helpful: https://www.amazon.com/Words-Their-Way-Pattern-Spellers/dp/013514843X

      Reply to this comment
  3. alice-99

    March 1, 2016 at 2:03 am

    Ma’am… can i ask a favor if you dont mind…hmm..please give me some story that are suitable for word sorting….arigatou

    Reply to this comment
    • Anna Geiger

      March 1, 2016 at 6:25 am

      This page has sample lessons: https://www.themeasuredmom.com/teaching-spelling/

      Reply to this comment
  4. Carrie

    July 12, 2013 at 1:31 pm

    So interesting!! I love this method! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!!

    Reply to this comment
  5. Jackie Higgins

    July 10, 2013 at 7:58 am

    Great series! I also featured this post on Mom’s Library this week! http://www.ready-set-read.com/2013/07/word-work-activities-featured-on-moms.html

    Reply to this comment
    • Anna Geiger

      July 12, 2013 at 8:14 pm

      Thank you so much for the feature, Jackie!

      Reply to this comment
  6. Sarah Fish

    July 4, 2013 at 8:54 am

    Just out of curiosity, what is the goal here? Is it to memorize this set of words or the spelling pattern to be able to generalize to other words? If generalization is the goal, would a purely auditory task be even more beneficial? A task where the children are given pictures (without words) and they sort them by vowel sound and spell them based upon the spelling rules that have been taught. Using that method would a person be tapping into higher level thinking skills as well as applying the new skill?

    Reply to this comment
    • annageig

      July 4, 2013 at 9:30 am

      Hi Sarah,
      Actually, both are the goal — to learn to spell a set of words because learning a generalization helps to spell them… and also being able to use that generalization to spell future words. Actually, auditory/visual sorts are used for children before they are ready to actually write words. Words Their Way contains many ideas for picture sorts for young children, as well as concept sorts for older kids.

      I think that what you mention is utilized when children do a blind sort… a word is read aloud to them and they think about how to spell it, then point to the correct column. The word is then revealed and placed in the correct spot.

      Reply to this comment
  7. Jana @ HowToRunAHomeDaycare

    July 2, 2013 at 2:16 pm

    Visiting from Teach Me Tuesday. Great post, my daughter is great at reading words with certain spelling patterns but they have not appeared in her writing yet. I think a word sort will be very helpful. We’ll try a few this week.

    Reply to this comment
    • annageig

      July 4, 2013 at 9:26 am

      Thanks for checking it out, Jana! I’d love to hear out your word sorts go.

      Reply to this comment
  8. Carla

    July 2, 2013 at 1:19 pm

    This just makes so much sense! My daughter is getting to a point where I think word sorts will be extremely helpful–I’m so glad you shared this at Teach Me Tuesday at Preschool Powol Packets!!

    Reply to this comment
    • annageig

      July 4, 2013 at 9:26 am

      I hope you find my Word Study printables useful, Carla — I look forward to sharing them!

      Reply to this comment
  9. Becky

    July 1, 2013 at 3:36 pm

    I have all the supplement books and love them. But, I also make my own if the sorts from the book don’t quite match where a child is. Great post, Anna!

    Reply to this comment
    • annageig

      July 4, 2013 at 9:26 am

      Thanks, Becky!

      Reply to this comment
      • Liz

        December 2, 2019 at 7:06 pm

        I like it

        Reply to this comment

Trackbacks

  1. - The Measured Mom says:
    September 20, 2020 at 5:28 am

    […] how to find and use word sorts for spelling instruction. […]

    Reply to this comment
  2. Word study lesson: a-e, ai, ay - The Measured Mom says:
    September 18, 2020 at 9:11 pm

    […] Prepare the new word sort. (Click here to learn more about word sorts.)  Give it to your child to cut […]

    Reply to this comment
  3. After School Link-Up - This Reading Mama says:
    July 7, 2013 at 11:25 pm

    […] LOVE, LOVE, LOVE The Measured Mom’s series on Word Study, an alternative to traditional spelling.  You have to check out her series!  Word study is my […]

    Reply to this comment
  4. After School Link-Up - This Reading Mama says:
    July 7, 2013 at 11:25 pm

    […] LOVE, LOVE, LOVE The Measured Mom’s series on Word Study, an alternative to traditional spelling.  You have to check out her series!  Word study is my […]

    Reply to this comment

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