As
an elementary teacher, one of the most important skills I can teach my students
is how to read, write and spell. The use of word work in my classroom is
essential, even in the upper elementary grades. Word work is when students
practice spelling, vocabulary, frequently used words and word parts like
prefixes, suffixes, and roots. This helps them continue to grow as young
readers and writers.
In
order to keep your students interested and engaged, you have to find
age-appropriate word work activities that they will enjoy. A fourth grader most
likely will not appreciate rainbow spelling the way a first grader would. In
contrast, solving vocabulary puzzles would be an excellent choice for older
students. I like to incorporate word work in my third grade classroom during
centers and reading groups. During centers, they often independently practice a
skill that we have worked on during reading group.
One
really important skill for understanding language is the ability to break words
down into their individual parts to extract the meaning. This requires
instruction in word analysis: specifically prefixes, suffixes, and Green and
Latin roots. When students understand the individual parts of a word, they are
much more successful at determining the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary.
This
resource consists of word wall words, a Word of the Day worksheet, and word
building cards including prefixes, suffixes, and many Greek and Latin roots
students will encounter in their reading. {Click the picture to see more.}
In
addition to analyzing words, students in third, fourth, and fifth graders still
need practice with more advanced phonics and spelling patterns, and vocabulary.
Listed
below are a few really great and age-appropriate activities for your students
to try:
- Vocabulary
Crossword Bulletin Board: Laminate squares of blank paper (so they can be used
over and over again) and use them to create a giant crossword grid on your
bulletin board. Post the clues about your weekly vocabulary words next to the
grid. For example, if one of your vocabulary words was "pointless",
then 1 across might say "Having no purpose". Students can record
their answers on their response sheets or you can have them write their answers
on the grid using dry erase markers.
- Scrabble
Spelling: Older students don't often like to practice their spelling words. One
way to add some fun is to turn it into a game. Scrabble tiles work great for
this. Put all of the tiles into a bag or box. Each student should also have
their spelling list handy. They take turns pulling a tile from the bag. If they
can use it to build a spelling word, they keep it. If not, it gets set aside.
Keep pulling tiles until they are all used up. Any completed words get scored
by adding the points on the tiles used. Incomplete words do not count. The
person with the highest score wins.
- Word
Sorts for Big Kids: Word sorting is typically a primary grades activity but it
can work for intermediate too. There are plenty of advanced spelling patterns
that lend themselves well to word sorting. One example is the "shun"
sound. The tion, sion, and
cian
patterns are confusing and take a lot of practice.
Students
can complete these activities in groups or centers to practice sorting words by
the suffix “tion, sion and cian”. At
the same time, they will be building their vocabulary. (This resource includes
word cards, definition cards, a recording sheet and a cut & paste
worksheet.)
- Stamp
Challenge: Since students love competition, this game is perfect! With a
partner, two stamp pads, and a set of letter stampers, students take a word
from a work bucket, and stamp out the spelling of the word as quickly as
possible to beat their partner. This game is strictly for spelling practice but it sure is fun!
While
word work is essential for the younger grades, it is important to keep
reinforcing spelling and vocabulary skills as our students progress. Students
will enjoy games and group activities that increase their knowledge of words
beyond just how to spell them. I hope you and your students find these ideas
helpful! Enjoy!
