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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What are versatiles?
Hi Melissa! I just put the finishing touches on these Word Work activities. You can snag them here – https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Work-Centers-Visual-Directions-1936033
Hi Hollie! I just put the finishing touches on the Work Work pack. You can find it here – https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Work-Centers-Visual-Directions-1936033
You're too sweet, Molly! Thank you so much. 🙂 Organization calms my soul and makes 'my' classroom mine. It's amazing how quickly my 1st graders have learned to make sure it stays 'just-right.' 😉
Hi Melissa! For green I mostly use the week's must-know/high frequency words. I use 8 words for week, so often I will 'add-in' a word or two that spiral review from an earlier week! 🙂
I am curious where you get your 3 levels for Reading Street word work. Thinking blue are amazing words, yellow are spelling words, and green…? Thanks so much for all of your detailed posts, especially those related to Reading Street. I am following your TpT store and anxious for more differentiated products.
This is a great post, and I can easily adapt this for my fourth grade Daily 3. I was just wondering if you had a system for whose turn it is for word study. Right now, I assign times, but I would love to move to more of a choice.
Thank you!
Mary
Fit to be Fourth
You are SO organized!! It inspires me! I love your visual directions with the pictures and examples! That is such a fabulous idea! I never got around to finalizing my plastic boxes like yours… that may have to be a goal for next year! 🙂
I stocked up when the lidded Sterilite boxes were available all summer at Big Lots in various sizes (they may still be there), and I usually see them in stock at Target. I've seen the latches in blue, green, and purple.
Miss you not being a fifth grade teacher but I have "borrowed" many of your ideas and bulletin boards. My question is–where did you get the containers that are holding all of your activities?
Thanks,
Karen
Hi Chris! Thank you so much. It's always nice to see how others run their reading block. I'm hoping to have some Word Work resources up in the next few weeks. In terms of the leveled folders, a lot of it I make or resources from Reading Street. In the picture above, the activities are actually from Versatiles – which my 1st graders love!
Hi Hollie! It's a work in progress. Make sure to follow my TpT store, so you can be notified when I add my Word Work resources. 🙂
Hello! I have a normal-sized 1st grade class (23) but they are pretty talkative. I try to keep my rotations pretty small. If a student really needs to visit Word Work, I'll allow a 4th, but otherwise friends can visit every other day. It works for us! 🙂
Do you have your word work activities on TpT? I like the super sentences and pyramid activity.
You only allow 3 students at a time at the word work center? Do you have a very small class? My class loves the stamp your words center, Stikki Wikki, BANG (using spelling words), writing words with red and blue markers(vowels in red and consonants in blue). You have some great ideas! I can't wait to see more installments!
I love your post! How do you use the Super sentences & are you considering making a pack in your store with some of these items? Where do you get the items in your leveled folders from?
Thanks so much for sharing! Chris