Word Study Resources are plentiful, but sometimes they confuse the point of instruction or they are mere worksheets! In this quick read, I want to share 3 helpful resources to help you build stronger readers and writers with early readers and transitional readers.
But first, a quick definition of word study.
Our friends over at Reading Rockets say, “Word study” is an alternative to traditional spelling instruction. It is based on learning word patterns rather than memorizing unconnected words. This article describes the word study approach.”
The only thing I’d change to this definition is “spelling instruction”. Word study is so much more than just spelling! It all types of word knowledge: meaning, structure, usage, etc.
(Photo Courtesy of Gift Habeshaw)
What is Word Study?
Word Study is:
- Recognizing patterns in word sounds.
- Recognizing and using conventional spelling patterns.
- Finding connections between word meanings.
- Analyzing words based on word parts and roots.
If you’d like more detailed information on the research and science behind word study, I recommend this page from our sister site: Spiral WarmUps, Knowledge Base.
Word Study Resources
Let’s jump into this! What are some word study resources that are engaging and that are more than mere worksheets?
Real resources that engage students, are simple to use, and get results for reading and writing? That’s what I’m sharing with you here – 3 word study resources:
- Context Clues Strategies
- Free Spelling Videos
- Word Work from Jennifer Serravallo
Context Clues
First on the list is a set of word meaning strategies for teaching context clues. In this article, you’ll see How to Teach Context Clues. I love this resource because it really is a set of strategies you can use with any text, any material, and for any age group!
5 Ways to Teach Context Clues
Free Spelling Review
This warm-up website is full of word study resources and has paid memberships, but there’s also a free membership (not just a trial) that has more than enough warm-ups for spelling review to last almost an entire school year! It’s SpiralWarmUps.com.
Here are three of the free spelling units you can start using today with your students. I really think you’ll love how students engage with this word study resource.
Spelling 1
This is a 10-day unit for 2nd and 3rd graders who need practice with vowels, digraphs, and consonant blends. It features a variety of activities all in an online video format!
Spelling 1 Advanced
This is another 10-day unit that builds on the previous one but is geared more to 3rd- and 4th-grade spelling problems:
- spelling vowel digraphs,
- consonant digraphs, and
- consonant blends.
Spelling 3
There are more advanced units that teach how to spelling multi-syllabic words, including:
- compound words,
- prefixes, and
- words with suffixes.
But Spelling 3 is worth mentioning here because it really targets those missing skills for transitional readers who have spelling challenges in grades 3-5. Spelling 3 focuses on inflected endings and double consonants.
Explore this Free Spelling Resource at SpiralWarmUps.com.
The Reading Strategies Book
Yes, most of this amaaaazing book is for reading strategies, which I think you’ll really love! But the third chapter is dedicated to word study resources, activities, and lesson ideas. Or as Jennifer Serravallo calls it, “Supporting Print Work: Increasing Accuracy and Integrating Sources of Information”
Yikes, that’s a mouthful!
It’s not so much a material to use like the word study videos above. It’s more of lesson plans/activities to do. Here are a few activities from the third chapter that I think you’ll love!
- Try, Try, Try Again: this strategy is for when you get to a trick word. It also offers you almost a dozen questions to ask readers as they attempt to decode.
- Think (While You Read the Words): You’ll love the anchor chart on this one! It combines decoding and monitoring for meaning.
- Apply Your Word Study to Book Reading: This is really where word study connects to reading! See the image below.
Explore the Reading Strategies Book on Amazon*
*Amazon Affiliate
It’s Your Turn!
If you made it this far, I really appreciate you reading! What are some word study resources that you love?
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Scroll down below the related posts and leave a comment about word study resources. Thanks!
I love using the SpiralWarmUps. I’m a free member and I wonder what I’ll get for the paid membership. I use the word study about 3 days per week. My students look forward to it
Thanks for being a member at SpiralWarmUp…we absolutely love to hear how students engage and enjoy the activities! The paid memberships include an ever-expanding supply of extended word study.
The difference is the extended word study is not unit-based. It’s based on activities such as Speed Speller, Word Sorts, etc… That way you can get additional practice for specific spelling patterns.
In addition to word study resources, the paid memberships have Fluency Builder and Reading Comprehension. If you want to try it out, there’s a single-month membership that costs less than a Starbucks. Give it a shot and see what you think!
My school uses Fountas & Pinnell but there’s so much to cut, copy, and keep up with. Thanks for sharing these ideas.
Hi Regina! Thanks for leaving a comment. I can relate to the amount of prep needed with that Word Study program. I hope you enjoy some of these word study resources. Have you looked at the free word study warm-ups?