Teaching phonics
them with the skills needed for attacking polysyllabic words. The whole process leads to a faster and more efficient word identification routine.
How to teach word study There are four main principles to bear in mind when teaching word study.
1 2 3 4
Children should explore words actively, and not by just looking at them or memorising their spelling. Children should connect all their new learning of word structure to already known content. Words should be presented in different meaningful contexts and at multiple times. Children should be at ease with syllables before they study morphemes in words.
Suggested sequence of word study
• • • • • • • • • • • •
initial and final consonants short vowels digraphs and blends long vowel patterns other vowel patterns consonant doubling plural endings compound words simple inflectional endings changing final ‘y’ to ‘i’ spelling patterns for the /cher/, /er/ and /el/ sounds at the end of words simple prefixes, roots and base words
Activities for word study
• • • • • • •
Word sorts Word hunts Interactive word wall Teacher modelling Word games (Wordo etc.) Word trees Word study notebooks
These following activities can be modified for various spelling patterns.
Wordo Wordo is a variation of the popular bingo game, and is an excellent way to integrate spelling and reading practice with a fun word study game. First you need to create a basic template card that can easily be reproduced each time you play. In the beginning you can start with a 3 x 3 grid that
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