Dear Parents : )
This year our students will be using Words Their Way: Word Study in Action as part of their language arts/reading instruction. Words Their Way: Word Study in Action will enhance the new core reading program, Good Habits Great Readers to provide the most effective instruction in phonics, spelling, and vocabulary.
Words Their Way is authored by noted researchers Donald Bear, Marcia Invernizzi, Francine Johnston, and Shane Templeton. Words Their Way is designed to teach students phonics, spelling, and vocabulary through engaging, hands-on activities. This powerful approach to word study teaches students to look closely at words to discover letters, vowel patterns, syllable structure and spelling-meaning connections in the English language.
How does Words Their Way: Word Study in Action work?
The heart of word study is sorting or the process of grouping sounds and words into specific categories. Word/picture sorting includes teacher-directed sorts as well as independent or partner sorts. Students will sort their word cards or picture cards and make discoveries and generalizations about the conventions of the English language. They will compare and contrast word features and discover similarities and differences within the categories.
Our Cobb County School District found this program to best complement our Good Habits, Great Readers reading/writing program based on the research, activities, and findings of the National Reading Panel. We look forward to the positive impact it will have on our students’ reading and writing.
Thanks!
Gail May
