Chapter 1

In our first chapter of "Words Our Way", we pretty much just get an overview of words sorts and what they are. Which is helpful since I have never seen them or heard of them until this class. As a pre-k teacher I work with students in the emergent stage of reading. They come to my class with the most basic knowledge. Some do not even know how to write their name.

In my classroom, we are starting to focus on the alphabetic part of the word study. We work mainly with teaching the alphabet and working on the sounds that the letters make. Young children, especially pre-k students, love to play. And as teachers we are encouraged to teach students in an active kinesthetic way. Word sorts are one way to do that. It involves the students manipulating cards rather than sitting still and being told what to do.

"Telling is not teaching". I loved that quote because it is incredibly true. We can not just tell the students what we as teachers know, but we have to show them and let them learn themselves. A lot of stuff in pre-k is centered around exploring and learning on their own. With word sorts, students could have a large control over their own learning. They are able to make decisions and practice on their own, building their confidence and knowledge. In my own personal classroom, I would use a very basic word sort, with pictures instead of words, and allow the students to sort those cards in whatever way they think off. This promotes individuality and fosters a sense of exploration in the students.

For Learning Module 1, I watched a video on spelling and writing. Here are my notes from the video:

Reading Rockets Writing and Spelling Video
Introduction: Writing and Spelling
•Writing is inseparable from reading and spelling.
   1.Need to the ability to read and spell in order to write effectively
   2.Spelling helps us see the patterns in our language
   3.Good spellers become faster, more fluent readers because spelling helps us see how words are built

Spelling Patterns
•R.I.S.E: Reading Initiative for Student Excellence
  1.Every morning, students across all grade levels regroup together for a 90 instructional reading time
   2.Groups of students are based on their reading achievement, so students are ability grouped for more specialized instruction
  3.Students are using word studies in order to understand spelling patterns, to help them become better readers.
  4.Large group word sort together as a class to “check for understanding” throughout the room, before letting the students do individual word sorts

Invented Spelling
•When students spell a word in their own way, that is invented spelling
•This method of spelling gives the teacher a greater insight into the child’s thinking
  1.Problem areas for the children’s reading, shows up first in their writing, in more dramatic fashion.  
  2.Unconventional spelling is not always a sign of trouble
  3.Practicing invented spelling helps the child build letter/sound connections
•“Spelling is a puzzle”
  1.Once you learn the rules of spelling, everyone can solve the puzzle
  2.Spelling inventively lets the students practice their phonemic awareness