Word Works...What is It?

I am sure many of you have heard about Word Works?  It is a part of the Daily 5 routine that focuses on what many people call "spelling".  I like the name of "Word Works" because you are really focusing on the way words are created, how they work.

The process of Word Works in 3rd grade is similar to what the students told me they used to do in 2nd grade, with some changes.  Let me highlight some of those changes by explaining the five day routine.

Day 1:  Students work together as a class to create a class list that contains words focusing on a sound or family.  For our practice week/introductory week, we just did the short vowel sounds of /a/, /i/, and /u/.   I wanted the students to become familiar with the routine and rationale of Word Works before starting them on challenging words.  So the students create a class list with me on Day 1.  After we have a solid list of varying difficulties in words, students then select a given amount of words from the class list that becomes their "individualized list".  Just like we all read at different levels, students do not all spell at the same level.  Do you think they should have the same word lists?  I don't think so.  We discuss how it is important each student select words that are "just right" for them, not those that are too "easy cheesy" or "too challenging".  After students have selected their list and I approve it, they they record their words on the app titled "A+ Spelling".  This app allows for students to put in their individual list, record the words, and practice them in various ways once the words are put into the app.

Day 2:  Day 2 involves focusing on the sound or family of the week, not necessarily the words selected by students.  It is more important that students work on the sound/family than memorize a list of words.  Therefore, students work with the sound/family of the week using the app of "Spelling City".  I have put lists on this site in which students have words of varying difficulty in which to manipulate in different ways.  They love this site and there is so much to do!

Day 3:  I think this is their favorite day as here is where we get a little competitive.  Students get with their "Word Works" partner and play a little game called "Knights and Dragons".  Basically if they spell their word correctly, they get to make a line on a game mat with the goal of closing the box and winning over the "square" as the knight or dragon.  It is an awesome way to practice words selected for the week.

Knights and Dragons

Day 4:  Another favorite is this day as it focuses on manipulating the words selected through various kinesthetic modes.  Students can select which activity they would like to use to work on their words.  These activities include letter tiles, magnetic letters, wiki stix, rainbow writing, blue consonant red vowel, and others that will be introduced in the upcoming weeks.  When students manipulate the letters and words in one of these types of modes, their chances of remember the sound/family increases.  Here are a few pictures of some of the activities.

Magnetic letters

Triangle Spelling

Blue Consonant/Red Vowel and vice versa

Day 5:  The test.  Students once again get with their word works partner and give each other their individualized test over their words for the week.

The goal is to make this a process that occurs Monday thru Friday, but with crazy schedules, many times the process is off.  So we just call it by numbers, Day 1, Day 2, etc. instead of Monday, Tuesday. ....

I should also comment that students do not bring home their word lists to study during the week.  Again, the goal is not for them to memorize a list of words.  The goal is for them to work with the words and sounds/family to build a better understanding of how words work.  By working on the words/sounds daily in a five day process, the students should be successful at building and recognizing the sounds that make their words selected that week.  You will see their 'tests' from Day 5 come home.