I am reading with interest the posts about spelling... I teach first grade. I have used WTW and differentiated it in my class so that there were actually three groups... Book A. Book B and Book C. I am going to offer a slightly different viewpoint... so here goes.... First let me say that the activities (open sort, blind sort, making words, word hunt and the gazillion others Donald Baer offers are wonderful)... but I do not believe this is a phonics program ....rather it is a word study program and the two are very different. The scope and sequence especially at the earliest levels Book K and book A will never get a first grader to read. They don't even see a long vowel team until the middle of book B.And I believe that spelling and reading are the inverse of each other. Secondly at the early levels WTW introduces consonants, blends, and digraphs... before vowels ...so kids are not using patterns to spell. Third... WTW uses lots of picture cards in the early books so emphasis is on the sound and not the spelling of words... and the management of those little cards can be a nightmare.
Now if you are steeped in phonics instruction... you can structure WTW lessons with specific phonics skills that are key to why the patterns presented work. However, I do not see teachers at early levels supplementing these activities with a systematic and sequential approach. What I do see is kids matching words with the same letters and not knowing the reason why they are pasting those little cards in a particular sort... they are just matching... once the headers of the sorts are taken away... the pattern is lost and there can be no transfer to new and unfamiliar words.That's because patterns without phonics support are empty placeholders if you will. That much said... I am using Orton Gillingham's scope and sequence and pulling activities (sorts) from WTW, This is like writing curriculum while you are teaching. I have not yet to date found a program that does it all but teachers need to versed in many programs and approaches to pull from. If you look on Scholastic's webiste there is a blog from Beth Newinghouse (? actually not sure of her name) who shows you how to differentiate and individualize spelling using many, many approaches.... I am working hard to duplicate... but even with her plan... kids need to be independent and accountable.... which is not always the nature of little ones... love the discussion... keep it going. Pam -----Original Message----- From: Lynn Stanley <lstan...@wcps.k12.va.us> To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group <mosaic@literacyworkshop.org> Sent: Thu, Oct 11, 2012 6:41 pm Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] spelling You might want to consider Word Journeys by Kathy Ganske. She did her work at UVA where Words Their Way was developed and I think this was her dissertation. It works beautifully with WTW, but I think it is much easier to use diagnostically. It has a feature analysis that allows the teacher to very specifically identify which features the student needs. The teacher can then start instruction at the ZPD. There are a number of activities, as well as an extensive word list in the back. It's a bit pricey, but well worth every penny. I use both resources. Lynn Stanley -----Original Message----- From: mosaic-bounces+lstanley=wcps.k12.va...@literacyworkshop.org [mailto:mosaic-bounces+lstanley=wcps.k12.va...@literacyworkshop.org] On Behalf Of Tammy Hubbart Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2012 11:15 PM To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] spelling There is a mixup in the post. My name made it on someone else's post. I have a very differentiated class. I have two kiddos that are beginning second grade in reading. Therefore their spelling is about that as well. I also have 3rd /4th grade level, 5th grade level and a sprinkling of great spellers. I teach a 5th grade classroom but have all title and resource kiddos. I'm looking for a program to fit all those needs. I have heard nothing but good things about Words Their Way I have purchased the main book but am looking to see what other resources anyone knows about that works with it. I will appreciate any suggestions. _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive
