Independent Word Study Centers

If you run literacy centers or a Daily 5 framework in your classroom then you know the struggle of constantly planning and prepping engaging activities for your students to keep behavior problems at a minimum so you can meet with your small groups for Guided Reading and Word Study.

Through the years, I have developed a successful routine for managing a Daily 5 framework that includes differentiated Word Study groups. I have tweaked the D5 system so many times, I finally feel that it is just what we need!

I’m so excited to share the newest addition to our Daily 5 routine:

Independent Word Study Centers

My students love the choice of activities available to them. These activities enhance our Word Study and Spelling program. In fact, my students call it Word Work Fun!

Included are 6 independent center activities/task cards that include step-by-step VISUAL directions to help my students complete each task independently and with accuracy.

Each activity touches upon a variety multidisciplinary tasks to build on their strengths while reinforcing phonemic awareness:

COUNT: Students build their words and count the value of each letter
BUILD: Students build with magnets and count the # of vowels and consonants.
BEAD!: Students use beads to build their words and build fine motor skills.
WRITE: Students rainbow-write their words. Simple, but they LOVE it!
STAMP: Students stamp their words and color-code the spelling pattern.
STORY: Students write a story using words from their list.

…and 5 recording sheets to help your students document their learning.

These center activities are perfect for differentiated Spelling lists (I use Words Their Way). Differentiating your Spelling lists can be a daunting task. These activities will not only support your curriculum but they will make your life easier! To learn more about how to simplify your differentiated Word Study and Spelling program visit HERE.

Here is a closer look at the independent Word Study Centers:

You will notice that I am a huge fan of color-coding EVERYTHING. Doing so, makes our life just so much easier. My students can find materials to match each center independently and quickly clean up after themselves. I found these awesome colorful space-saving stacking trays and durable baskets at LEARN365. I placed the stacking trays right in the middle of the center so that children can grab the coordinating recording sheet for their activity of choice! It looks and works out beautifully! Classroom organization at its best.

You will also need alphabet magnets, beads, stamps, ink pads and scrabble tiles. I found all of these items at LEARN365.

Once you have the materials prepped, your students can visit each center and practice/reinforce ANY phonics pattern they are studying in your classroom. These activities are low-maintenance and support any spelling rule. It’s a win-win!

Let’s take a closer look at how independent my students are at their Word Work centers.

I am thrilled at how versatile these activities are. You can assign these activities as a daily routine or you can make them available to students who finish their center activities early.

You can also utilize this resource in your Substitute Teacher Plans to keep your curriculum going in your absence.

If you are in love with our Independent Word Work FUN centers as much as we are, you can find them here at my TpT shop:

Independent Word Study Centers for Any Spelling List

Classroom Library Labels: Freebie!

It's that time of year again and as teachers we are torn between soaking up the last days of summer vacay and prepping our classrooms and resources for another school year!  Let it be a great one!

To help you get your year off on the right foot, here is a freebie for you!

Classroom library labels by reading level and by author & themes!

These leveled classroom library labels will help you organize your collection of books.

60 labels included:

Leveled labels from A (1) to R (40)
Fiction labels for series and Author Studies
(please see preview to view the complete collection)

Sorting your library by reading level promotes reader's confidence and growth. These labels measure 3x3". I have also included author study bins.

 You can find them at the shop:

Leveled Classroom Library Labels

Enjoy!

What to do with "Worn Out" Library Books?

Teachers have an endless to do list at the end of the school year.

One of those tasks is to reorganize your classroom library.  

By level,

By genre,

In baskets,

On shelves...

...In the Book Hospital...

If you are like me, I am always perplexed by what to do with our precious classroom library books that can not be repaired and must meet their end in the recycle bin.

But STOP!

Even the most worn and torn, yet loved library books can be saved!

There are a multitude of things that can be done with our beloved books. Check out this idea. Our local town librarian came for a classroom visit and provided our students each with a button made from books in her Book Hospital:

My first graders absolutely loved receiving these buttons to wear all day!

I was so inspired by this that I began to brainstorm other uses for our Book Hospital books that were beyond repair:

Bookmarks

Anchor charts

Book reviews

Character Studies

photo frames

the possibilities are endless!

Mentor Sentences

Reading Strategy minilessons

Before you go thru your Book Hospital, do not fear having to say goodbye. Take a minute to think how you can reuse your treasures.

Words Their Way, OUR way Part 7: Read to Self as Word Study

Why not take your Word Work one step further?  I have disguised Read to Self as a bit more... Word Work... and my firsties don't seem to mind.  Yours won't either.  It's a Win-Win!  Read on!

Read to Self Word Study Assignments

In addition to my students' Word Work during our Daily 5, one of their "Must Do" items is to Read to Self.  During this time the children are assigned a story to read from one of our decodable readers that reinforces their Word Study Goal.  (The students have the opportunity to choose what books to read later in the day during our Reader's Workshop or as a "Can Do" when they finish their Daily 5).

Since I have 5 differentiated word study groups (using the Words Their Way program), I have found it difficult to manage each group's reading assignment from the different sets of decodable readers that I have collected over the years.  I was using post-its, but that seemed like a waste of 20 post-its a day-they quickly disappear. I found it necessary to create bookmarks to mark the story to be read each day:

I currently use the decodable readers from the Journey's anthology that our district purchased for us.  I also saved the last set of readers from our previous anthology.  I have to admit, I finally have a nice supply of readers that allow for each group to have a story to read each day.  If I find I am a story short, I have several sets of reading comprehension passages that I have purchased and I provide them with a photocopy to keep.

Once I determine which decodable reader (and the story within) best matches each group's Word Study focus, I slip the bookmark right to the page and drop the books in their respective baskets!  

It takes me about 5 minutes to prep their Read to Self assignments each day...  now that I have created book marks as a management tool.  Not to mention, the kids LOVE using book marks!

Another plus...directions for the Read to Self assignment is printed on each bookmark to remind my young readers of what must be done.  You will notice that each Word Study group has a color coded bookmark with their group's name printed on it.  This makes it easy for my students to locate their Read to Self assignment for the day.

My students are also encouraged to jot down the words that contain that week's focus in a folder as they read. We call this notebook a "collection".  For example, if they are working on the long vowel sound of /ai/ they would list any words that contain that word chunk in their folder (we call word chunks  "gumballs" because we highlight them with a color coded circle). They love to see their collection of words grow.  This is their incentive. They also receive a real gumball after taking a weekly spelling test if they do well.  If you would like to learn more about our Gumballs Notebook please visit my post:

Our Interactive Phonics Notebook....Chunky Monkey's Gumballs!

As you can see, I have disguised Read to Self as a bit more... Word Work... and my firsties don't seem to mind.  Yours won't either.  It's a Win-Win!

And there you have it!  Words Their Way--OUR Way!

If you would like to download the Read to Self Bookmarks, Bulletin Board Display, bin labels along with the data tracking forms and related resources mentioned in this article visit my TpT store:

Differentiating Words Their Way: Organization & Routines BUNDLE

This is what is included:

This is a seven-part blog series.

Click below to jump right to what you need to know:

Words Their Way-- OUR Way PART 1: Getting Started

Words Their Way-- OUR Way PART 2: Getting Organized

Words Their Way-- OUR Way Part 3: Planning and Prep

Words Their Way-- OUR Way Part 4: Motivation & Goal Setting

Words Their Way-- OUR Way Part 5: Routine & Mini-lessons
Words Their Way-- OUR Way Part 6: Word Study Assessment
Words Their Way-- OUR Way Part 7: Read to Self as Word Study

Words Their Way, OUR way Part 6: Assessment

Now that you have your Word Study routines in place it is now time to consider how you will assess your students and evaluate their growth.  I have some simple solutions for you!

Assessing Each Sort

At the end of each sort/unit I administer a simple spelling test. I always choose words from their sort. Words Their Way also provides assessments that are simple to administer but are not available for each sort. Our school district also purchased the Journeys anthology that contains a variety of Phonics tests that I copied and filed away to match my own filing system. I do not follow the scope and sequence of Journeys but their resources are a great supplement to Words Their Way.

This is a sampling of my Words Their Way gradebook for spelling:

And there you have it!  Words Their Way--OUR way!

But WAIT!  I have one more idea for you!  Why not take your Word Work one step further?  I have disguised Read to Self as a bit more... Word Work... and my firsties don't seem to mind.  Yours won't either.  It's a Win-Win! To learn more visit:

Words Their Way, OUR Way Part 7: Read to Self as Word Study

If you would like to download the EDITABLE grade book and record keeping documents along with the related resources mentioned in this article you can find them at my TpT store:

Differentiating Words Their Way: Organization & Routines BUNDLE

This is what is included:

This is a seven-part blog series.

Click below to jump right to what you need to know:

Words Their Way-- OUR Way PART 1: Getting Started

Words Their Way-- OUR Way PART 2: Getting Organized

Words Their Way-- OUR Way Part 3: Planning and Prep

Words Their Way-- OUR Way Part 4: Motivation & Goal Setting

Words Their Way-- OUR Way Part 5: Routine & Mini-lessons
Words Their Way-- OUR Way Part 6: Word Study Assessment
Words Their Way-- OUR Way Part 7: Read to Self as Word Study

Words Their Way, OUR way Part 5: Routine & Differentiated Mini-lessons

Now that you have motivated your students and set goals, you are ready to introduce your Word Study routines. I have some tips to help you introduce these routines whole group so that later on, your students will have clear expectations as to what they are to accomplish as they work independently in the Word Study center.  

Introduce the Word Study Routine Whole Group

Words Their Way has a multitude of Word Sorts that are called Concept Sorts. At the beginning of the year, I use these sorts to acclimate the students for our morning routine and weekly Word Work procedures. The entire class has the same assignment and we “practice” the morning routine which I refer to as our TUNE UPS—remember we are rockin’ readers and we need to “tune up” before our rehearsals (independent Word Work center activities)! Teehee. The kids love this. Drum roll, please.

“Tune Ups”: Differentiated Mini-lessons

Once you have your routine in place, you are ready to start differentiating your lesson content for each group. Prior to meeting with each rock band (word study group) I organize their daily activities in their own color-coded bins so they can access their assignment during their independent work during our Daily 5 rotations:

If you would like to download a copy of the bin labels, bulletin board display, and related resources mentioned in this article to help motivate your differentiated Words Their Way groups, visit my TpT store:

Differentiating Words Their Way: Organization & Routines BUNDLE

After our morning meeting, we distribute the Anchor Activity Folders and I call each rock band for a “tune up” lesson before we begin our Daily 5. Depending on the lesson you have planned, the tune up lessons should only take about 5 minutes. Enough time to touch base, revisit our goals and motivate one another.

We begin by stating our Word Study goal and dive into our mini lesson. We review the phonics rule for our weekly sort, practice the sort and I then explain the Word Work activity that they will complete independently during our Daily 5 centers. Their daily activity is in their assigned bin located at the Word Study Center. They help themselves to the resources they need for the day when they are ready to complete their Word Work.

Here is a glimpse of my weekly plan book to give you a better idea of how we manage our time:

Word Work Routine

I have found using a Monday – Friday routine difficult to follow due to schedule restraints: days off, assemblies, special events, etc. In addition, if all students are in need of the same materials each day you may run into a shortage of supplies (computers, fluency phones, decodable readers, etc). I find it best to vary my Word Study activities instead of having the class complete the same “type” of activity on each day. For example, if the whole class was assigned a “Write the Room”, it would be difficult to manage your small guided reading groups with 15+ students walking around the classroom.

I have a variety of resources that I use that are engaging, challenging yet not too easy… just right! You can refer to them HERE in Part 2: Getting Organized.

One consistent part of our daily routine is that each student is required to buddy up with someone in their rock band (word study group) and complete the speed sort. After the speed sort is completed, they complete their assigned written activity. It is highly beneficial for the students to complete the speed sort each day so they are exposed to the spelling rule often and repetitively.

If you are not a fan of assigning your students with worksheets (reading comprehension, cut and paste matching, etc.) you can assign the following activities that your students can easily complete in their Word Study Journal: 

• Written Sort
• Rainbow Write
• Pyramid Words
• Stamping the words
• Play doh the words
• Dry erase write the words
• Stencil the words
• Wikki Stix the words
• Write each word in a sentence
• Type the words

Now that you have your Word Study routines in place it is now time to consider how you will assess your students and evaluate their growth.  I have some simple solutions for you!

To read more, visit: 

Words Their Way, OUR way Part 6: Assessment

If you would like to download a copy of the bulletin board display, and related resources mentioned in this article to help motivate your differentiated Words Their Way groups, visit my TpT store:

Differentiating Words Their Way: Organization & Routines BUNDLE

This is what is included:

This is a seven-part blog series.

Click below to jump right to what you need to know:

Words Their Way-- OUR Way PART 1: Getting Started

Words Their Way-- OUR Way PART 2: Getting Organized

Words Their Way-- OUR Way Part 3: Planning and Prep

Words Their Way-- OUR Way Part 4: Motivation & Goal Setting

Words Their Way-- OUR Way Part 5: Routine & Mini-lessons
Words Their Way-- OUR Way Part 6: Word Study Assessment
Words Their Way-- OUR Way Part 7: Read to Self as Word Study

Words Their Way, OUR way Part 4: Motivation & Goal Setting

Now that you have prepped your resources, you are ready to forge ahead with your differentiated Word Study groups. But before you do, I have some tips to help you motivate your students to achieve with goal setting!

Motivate Your Students with a Theme and Goal Setting

Our Word Work differentiated groups are organized by “rock bands” because we are “Rockin’ Readers & Super Star Spellers” (students will be able to transfer the spelling patterns they learn in their Word Work to their Writing and Reading)!

Each Word Study group’s goal is displayed under their rock band’s name. Each student’s name is clipped to the phonics goal beneath. The students truly love being part of a rock band and celebrate when each band meets their goal with a cheer: “Rock on!” because EVERYONE is a star.

If you would like to download a copy of the bulletin board graphics, planning bin labels and related resources to help make planning your differentiated Words Their Way groups a breeze, visit my TpT store: Differentiating Words Their Way: Organization & Routines BUNDLE

The Phonics Goals Poster Set with “I can” statements provide the students with a visual reminder as to what their Word Study focus is. All the goals are displayed in the classroom on a clothesline. When the students are ready for a new goal we take the goal poster down and display it under their rock band’s name on our Word Study bulletin board. Their previous goal is then returned to the clothesline as a visual reminder as to what they have already accomplished. The students refer to them as they are reading and writing. The goal posters encourage students to take accountability for their learning!

 

If you would like to download a copy of The Phonics Goal Poster Set please click HERE.

Now that you have motivated your students and set goals, you are ready to introduce your Word Study routines. I have some tips to help you introduce these routines whole group so that later on, your students will have clear expectations as to what they are to accomplish as they work independently in the Word Study center.  To learn more, read on:

Words Their Way, OUR way Part 5: Routine & Differentiated Mini-lessons

If you would like to download a copy of the planning bin labels and related resources to help make planning your differentiated Words Their Way groups a breeze, visit my TpT store:

Differentiating Words Their Way: Organization & Routines BUNDLE

This is what is included:

This is a seven-part blog series.

Click below to jump right to what you need to know:

Words Their Way-- OUR Way PART 1: Getting Started

Words Their Way-- OUR Way PART 2: Getting Organized

Words Their Way-- OUR Way Part 3: Planning and Prep

Words Their Way-- OUR Way Part 4: Motivation & Goal Setting

Words Their Way-- OUR Way Part 5: Routine & Mini-lessons
Words Their Way-- OUR Way Part 6: Word Study Assessment
Words Their Way-- OUR Way Part 7: Read to Self as Word Study

Coming soon....Planning Differentiated Word Study Groups...Made EASY!

I am so excited to share with you strategies to help plan your differentiated Word Study Groups easily and quickly.

As teachers, we are always searching for the most effective program, and designing our delivery to best meet the diverse needs of our students. At the same time, we aim to go about each endeavor in the most effective yet efficient and time-saving manner. This is not always an easy task.

When I was first introduced to the Words Their Way Spelling program I was motivated to get started right away. Words Their Way is a program that will help students identify spelling patterns in their reading and apply those phonics rules in their writing….Yup, I’m in!

I was instantly excited to learn how to implement the program, yet soon I was overwhelmed with the task of getting started. Boy, oh boy, am I glad I did! Let me share my experience, tips and tricks to help you start off on the right foot. I assure you, once you get organized and have your management procedures down pat, delivery is a snap. It took me a few years to get comfortable with the program. Let me save you the time. 

Stay tuned...

Table Top Recycle Bins

It's the little things that eliminate classroom disruptions. Table-top recycle bins will help keep students anchored in their learning rather than roaming the room to socialize on their way back from the classroom recycle bin. Yippee!

I purchased these colorful tubs at Oriental Trading.  As soon as I saw them I knew exactly what purpose they would have in our classroom.  The kids are going to love them.

They will help keep distractions to a minimum, keep our classroom tidy, and add to our classroom leadership roles.

The K Files'...FILES!

I don't know about you, but my filing cabinet is a treasure chest of resources and goodies that are dear to my teacher heart. But it wasn't too pretty to look at. So I created some fancy dividers to help me locate just what I need when I need it! Look how pretty my Phonics/Words Their Way files are:

I find using colored Oxford folders work best (you can purchase them in boxes of 25). I’m slowly in the process of switching over. Not only are they more durable and hold up well, but those darn tabbed file folders always gave me nasty paper cuts. Plus the Oxford folders look much nicer. Not to mention that you can color code everything! Be still my teaching heart!

I know that many teachers prefer to use binders to organize their resources, but I don’t like to hole punch my originals; they don’t copy well. Also, I’m not a fan of the sheet protectors either, I find refiling my resources more time consuming if using them.

So I am going to stick to MY K FILES!  Teehee!

My next project is to switch from tabbed manila folders to the colored oxford folders. I got started with my digraphs files:  No more paper cuts!

Such a simple endeavor has brought me such pleasure.

I no longer dread having to do my filing

(one of my least favorite teacher tasks).

I'd love to share these dividers with you.

I've just uploaded them at my TPT store as a FREEBIE:

Reading & Phonics Filing Dividers