Structured literacy is evidence-based instruction requires clear, direct teaching, sequential lessons, continuous assessment, and multimodal techniques to engage various parts of the reading brain. While multi-sensory learning or the use of multiple tools for building words (sand, screens, letters, counters, etc) is popular on social media – the true meaning of multi-sensory or multimodal learning is different. It’s rooted in brain research and decades of fMRIs.
To move a word from short term to long term memory students need to…
- Hear and say the sounds in a word
- See the letters that represent those sounds
- Write or build words out of sounds
This is multimodal instruction and an essential routine students needs to engage with before words become “sight words.” (Sight words being any word that students can read by sight.)
This is multimodal instruction and an essential routine students needs to engage with before words become “sight words.” (Sight words being any word that students can read by sight.)
How Do You Change Out Choices?
above the containers (a color representing each of my ability groups). You can read more about how I differentiate and organize the words in this blog post. The 4-5 choices I keep out stay out for an entire month or so and just the words change. That way, I am not teaching brand-new word work choices every.single.week. That would be crazy! Students visit word work 2-3 times a week and choose their just-right activities. After choosing an activity, they color their choices on their Reading Reflection Log. 
Where Do You Get Your Words?
Our weekly words come from Reading Street and I copy them on different colors of cardstock for my different reading groups.
- Green: 1-syllable words with focus pattern
- Yellow: 1 or 2-syllable words focus pattern + blends + digraphs
- Blue: 2 or 3-syllable words with with focus pattern + affixes
on each Command Hook because 3 students may visit Word Work each round. Students are expected to visit Word Work at least 2 times a week. (Note – due to Copyright and the fact that these words belong to my school, they are not available for purchase. Sorry!)
Scaffolding Students
I try to provide as many scaffolds to my friends as possible. Yes, we did spend lots of time teaching and practicing each of these activities, but still – they’re 6. Sometimes they forget. Sometimes they get off track. I find providing visual directions on the tops of each container really helps us keep focused…especially at the beginning of the month when we have new activities. Several layers of scaffolding to help students work towards grade-level standards.
- Visual Directions: Each task include several options for visual directions. These provide students a picture of what the routine looks like set-up and a sample product. Visual directions are provided with learning targets and pictures as well as learning targets, pictures, and step-by-step directions.
- Icons: Directions within the resource are direct and to the point. Directions include an icon to support students in understanding what is being asked. Consistent icons are used throughout.
- Differentiated recording sheets with a variety Primary Writing Lines and General Writing Lines included
Our Favorites Word Work Choices
Differentiating Word Work
In addition to different words, many of our word work choices are also leveled. Within each container, I keep colored folders for my three different ability groups – below, at, and above grade level. Students know to pull the papers or recording sheets from their colored folder. This is a really simple way to make sure everyone is getting just what they need and what they are ready for!
Sentence Unscramble
Sound Sorts
Now that we’re learning about long vowels and vowel teams, we spend a little time each week sorting sounds we see and hear. This is wonderful phonics practice and I love that all my friends (regardless of level) get just-right phonics practice.
Going Digital with Word Sorts
, Stacks, and potentially some phonics sound-sorts. I’ll keep you updated! 🙂
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You are amazing! I just discovered your blog and I am jumping with joy over the wealth of information. Thanks for helping me get my word work on track. This is a fantastic blog!
Hello! I’ve written about these boxes and where I get them in this post: http://brownbagteacher.com/classroom-storage-container/
Where did you purchase your clear boxes for centers? I’ve seen similar Sterilite containers that are slightly larger (15×11, I think) at Walmart for $3.88 and found these exact ones in a six pack on Amazon for $23. I was just curious if you found them cheaper anywhere else. 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
Hi Lindsay! We focus on 6 words a week. 🙂
I’m going to try to use leveled sight words (pre-primer/primer for my lower kiddos, 1st grade for mhy on level, and 2nd/3rd for my above) and then words with our weekly phonics focus (one syllable for my lowers, more blends for my on level, and mutli-syllable words for my higher kiddos), but I wanted to know how many words you use in each set? And how often do you change out your words? Weekly?
Is there a way to easily print out these three sets of lists? I know how to download the amazing and high frequency words per week with the pdf, but not sure on the spelling. I'm sure I'm just missing something.