word study

Word Study

WORD STUDY TIPS K-5

Phonological Awareness:
Child's ability to hear the individual words in sentences; to identify words that rhyme; and to understand that words have syllables.

Phonics:
Understanding the systematic way that the written letters of our alphabet represent spoken sounds.

Sight Words:
Most frequently used words in reading and writing.

Vocabulary:
The words we know that help us communicate.  The words we know are the foundation we use to understand new ideas.

Spelling:

A combination of words from above that are asked to know and spell frequently in writing.

Ways you can help build word recognition at home--
Begin with names!  

Young children love to say and write their own names and the names of family members and friends.  You can play games with these names by writing each one on a small slip of paper.  Sort them by using beginning letters and number of letters/syllables.  Then, cut apart the names and have children put them back together.

Create a Word Wall!
A word wall is a place to post high-frequency words for ongoing practice.  High-frequency words are those that children read and write most often.  Use sticky notes to add the words to your wall at home.

Label!
To teach young children the names of different objects in their environments, label those objects and talk about the words.

Read Aloud to children of all ages!
Children learn words from hearing and reading words in many different contexts.

Make words!
Gather magnetic letters, letter tiles from a Scrabble game, or letters written on small squares of paper.  Give children 5-7 letters and have them make different words using these letters.  For example, the letters EASTB make the words bat, sat, best, set, beast, etc.