Words Their Way Classroom Webinars

What are the ingredients of effective word study instruction? In this session, Dr. Donald Bear will present 10 essential elements of teaching phonics, vocabulary, and spelling, including ways to organize learning and encourage student interaction and self-reflection. Dr. Bear will also share routines, and activities for implementing word study in the classroom at each developmental spelling stage.

There are three reasons for adopting a word study approach to spelling, vocabulary, and grammar instruction in a language arts program: (1) Word study provides the link to integrate and apply word-level skills within the context of reading and writing; (2) word study builds on the fundamental cognitive learning process of focusing on comparing and contrasting and brings this process to conscious attention; and (3) word study is hands-on, student-centered, developmentally appropriate, and fun. Word-conscious teachers link word study to reading and writing, provide a flexible sequence of instruction that includes instruction in grammar, text analysis, and writing; and provide hands-on, repeated practice with words and ideas. Word study makes explicit how spelling patterns and word structures reflect meaning and use.

There is more regularity to the spelling of sound in English than most students (and educators!) realize. Discovering this regularity benefits not only students' spelling but their reading as well. Beginning in the latter part of 1st grade for some children and in 2nd through 4th grade for most, this regularity may be discovered and learned through the exploration of within- and between-syllable patterns. Learners become aware of