Bringing Word Study to Intermediate Classrooms

Janet W. Bloodgood

And Linda C. Pacifici

Created by: Gordon Fish

Positives

• Focuses on meaning of words by drawing students’ attention to spelling patterns and word roots.

• Connections to phonics, reading and writing

• ESL concept and vocabulary development• Adds diversity to instruction• Teachers and students enjoyed the hands

on, interactive activities

Negatives

• Teachers see word study as supplemental rather than essential learning.

• Not enough time in the day for spelling instruction

• Some teachers have limited knowledge about the structure of their native language and the developmental nature of its spelling system.

• Parents might not feel comfortable with this approach because they are familiar with the traditional approach.

Conclusions

• Anecdotal teacher comments said that students developed an interest in word origins and became excited.

• Students applied logic and critical thinking skills to spelling as well as to vocabulary and syntax.

• Teachers needed a gradual introduction to word study and time to build their confidence, knowledge base and implementation stategies.

Four Units of Word Study

• Root of the Day

• Homophones for Within Word Pattern

• Homographs for Syllable Juncture

• Word Endings for derivational Constancy

Word Study Activities

• Root of the Day

• Word Sorts

• Homophone Rummy

• Homograph Think Sheet

• Homograph Concentration

• -ar,-er and-or Think Sheet

Root of the Day

Spectus/spectareLatin: to watch,

look at

Retrospect:to look back

Retrospectivelooking back

on past events:

Inspect:to look into

Inspection:to look into

Word Sort

Short i i-con-e igh i con-con y

stick time flight wild try

blimp guide knight find fly

miss stripe sigh child sky

Homophone Rummy

• Played like rummy with pairs or triplets of matching

homophones.

Examples: ate and eight, to, too, and two

Homograph Think Sheet

subject invalid increase extract desert

record content refuse combat rebel

Homographs

sùbject subjéct

Noun Verb AdjectiveDirections: Sort in column and put an accent over the vowel that is emphasized.

Homograph Concentration • Cards with sentences containing homograph

with same grammatical context.• Example: The subject of my talk is economic

policy. The British ambassador is a loyal subject of the queen.

• Players take turns turning over two cards till they find two examples of homographs.

• If cards don’t match they are turned back over. • Game continues till all cards are turned over.• Player who turns over the most cards wins.

-ar, -er and -or Think Sheetdoctor labor pastor circular danger

dancer uglier soldier sailor stellar

faster solar preacher robber favor

honor humor actor dreamer lower

Agent Concrete Comparative Scientific

doctor

dancer

favor faster

happier

Solar

stellar

Nouns Adjectives

Abstract Misc