What is word work? To put it simply, word work is spelling practice. At least that's what it consists of in my classroom. In the primary grades (kinder, 1st, and 2nd), word work can also consist of sight words. In upper elementary and intermediate grades, word work could also include vocabulary words.
As a Texas educator, my spelling lists are based on CSCOPE skills. However, we have a 5th grade teacher who uses the Words Their Way model. If you have not read this book by Donald Bear and Marcia Invernizzi, I highly recommend it. This is definitely something I would like to implement in my classroom. I read the book this summer and fully intended to use this model for spelling, but as a novice guided reading teacher I felt that I could not implement everything this first year.
So what do students do during Word Work? Students can complete a variety of activities during word work. They can do and use anything that will help them practice their spelling/sight/vocabulary/high frequency words. I have to have at least two spelling grades per week so I always make the students complete at least one spelling activity that they can turn in for me to grade. Their second grade comes from their weekly spelling test. After the students have completed one paper and pencil activity, they are allowed to choose from any of the activities and materials that I have available.
Paper and Pencil Activities
*3 times each - Yes, this is a boring activity, but it's easy for the students and I can grade it easily.
*Color Words - This is an activitiy that the students really like. Most of them choose this as their activity for me to grade. To complete color words, the child will need 2 crayons or colored pencils. They will write each word one time using the 2 colors. The consonants in the word will be written in one color, while the vowels are written in the second color. Examples: book pencil paper *Spelling Triangles - This activity is tedious but, surprisingly, many of students like to complete this activity each week. To complete a "triangle" for a word, the student will write the first letter of the word on the first line. Underneath the letter, they will again write the first letter and add the second letter. On the third line, the student will write the first three letters of the word, and so on until the entire word is written. Examples: b g m bo gl ma boo glu mai book glue mail
*ABC Order - This activity is self explanatory. The student simply puts the words into ABC order.
*Number Words - For this activity, the students convert their words into numbers based on the code a telephone keypad. The number two on a telephone keypad is associated with the letters A, B, and C. Therefore if you had an "a," "b," or "c" in your word, you would write the number two instead of that letter. Examples: book = 2665 pencil = 736245 paper = 72737
*Illustrate Your Words - The students choose 10 words and illustrate them.
*Write a story - The students choose 5 words and incorporate them into a story.
*Sentences - The students must choose 10 of their words and a sentence for each word.
Other Word Work Activities
*Build, Mix, Fix - This is by far my students' favorite activity to complete during word work. The students use plastic letters to build a word from their list. Then they mix the letters up, and fix the word. I have two different kinds of letters in my build, mix, fix center. The first type was purchased from an educational materials supplier. All of the consonants in this set are blue, while all of the vowels are red. The second type of letters I purchased almost 15 years ago when I first began teaching. They are simple refrigerator magnets of various colors and sizes.
*Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check - For this activity, you will need to prepare a set of file folders for your students. Cut only the front of the folder into three equal sections by making two cuts horizontally across the folder. Once the folders are cut, the students can place a spiral or piece of paper in between the two sides of the folder. They will lift the first flap and write the first word. Then they will say the word. The student will then put the flap down so that it covers the word. Next, lift the second flap and write the word. Then lift the first flap again and check the wrod written under the second flap. If the word is correct, the student moves on to the next word and repeats the process. If the word is incorrect, the child checks the spelling under the first flap and says the word. After putting the first flap down, they lift the third flap and write the word. Then they will check it using the word written under the first flap.
*Alphabet Stamps - I found a full set of alphabet stamps in the $1.00 section at a local craft store, but you can also get sets made especially for the classroom at teacher supply stores or catalogs. The students are required to make a 2 column table. They write the words on one side and stamp them on the other side.
*Wiki Stix, Pipe Cleaners, and Clay Letters - Allow the students to create letters using wiki stix, pipe cleaners, or clay.
*Type the Words - Provide students with an old keyboard (it doesn't have to be connected to the computer). The student types each word from the list.
*Text the Words - Not really...I have a template that I found through Pinterest that looks like an iPad with the keyboard popped up on the screen. The top of the image is blank so the students write their words in this section. Then they pretend to "text" the words using the keyboard at the bottom of the image.
*Spelling City - If you have enough computers then I highly recommend the use of Spelling City. This is a great site that allows teachers, parents, and students to input a list of words, and practice that list using fun games and quizzes.
*Spelling List Podcasts - This takes considerable preparation time by the teacher, but is a great option for ELL and LD students. I've created many podcast videos for a variety of grade levels and lists. Each podcast has both audio and images to support the learner. The beginning of the podcast explains the rule that the words will follow. Then I begin by showing the first word along with an image that will help the learner remember the word. I state the word and use the word in a sentence. Then I begin spelling the word by showing and saying each letter in the word. I end by showing the entire word and image again. I then download these podcasts onto iPods (or mp3 players), but you can also play these directly on a computer if you do not have access to iPods. (Directions are included on the resources page for creating your own spelling list podcast.)