Why and How to Use Developmental Word Study

1
Why and How to Use Developmental Word Study
2
Sequence

• Students took a Primary Spelling Inventory to
  determine their word study level.
• Students were placed into word study groups.
• Word study groups meet daily. (Monday's meeting
  always takes about 10-15 minutes longer.)
• Students spend 20-30 minutes daily in word
  study.

3
Daily Assignments In Class

• Day 1 Students receive 20-25 words for the
  week. Students cut, sort, read, and write words.
• Day 2 sort words and explain how they sorted
• Day 3 blind word sort (Students write down
  headers and a partner calls out their words to
  them. The student must decide which column the
  word goes into and how to spell the word without
  looking.
• Day 4 word hunt (Students write down header
  words then look for words that follow their
  spelling patterns and write them down. Use a
  book that is at their instructional level.)

4
Word Study Homework

• Monday Sort words and read, complete word sort
  chart in Word Study notebook. Make chart, with
  header cards. Write words in the chart that match
  the sort.
• Tuesday Sort words, read them to someone.
  Explain how and why you sorted your words.
• Wednesday Sort and read words to someone.
  Complete a blind word sort. Directions for blind
  word sort Make a word sort chart in your word
  study notebook label the chart with the patterns
  of your sort. Mix up your words and have someone
  call the words out to you. You write each word in
  the column of your word sort chart that matches
  the pattern of the word.
• Thursday Sort and read your words to someone.
  Make a word sort chart in your word study
  notebook. Label the chart with the patterns of
  your sort. Look for words that match your pattern
  in books or magazines. Write the in the column of
  your chart that matches the pattern of the word.
  These have to be different words than the ones
  you are studying for the week.

5
Action Based Research Findings
The researcher chose words from the first week
of this research project ten studied words and
five unstudied words. The students had these
words the week of September 21st. The graph shows
the results of this assessment. All names are
pseudo names.