Choice Lit Topic: Word Study and Vocabulary
Here is where you will find resources for teaching students about spelling, word features, vocabulary, and grammar.
Results
An Alternative to Spelling Tests
As I read through my students' writing journals, I was reminded of the question I get from parents from time to time: “What happened to spelling tests?" When parents fret...
Building Thinking Classrooms in Literacy
One of the latest innovations in teaching mathematics is Peter Liljedahl’s Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics. It has been a game changer for me because my students engaged in math,...
Harnessing the Power of Words
After fourth grade, your vocabulary develops almost exclusively from what you read. To put this into perspective, if you were to read for 30 minutes a day, you would be...
Building Vocabulary One Purple Word at a Time
Seek to be the purple thread in the long white gown. —Epictetus I have never been a fan of purple. When I see a rack of clothing items in a...
Let’s Do It Again, Together
It started off strong. Our word-of-the-week vocabulary segment was filling the air daily on our video morning announcements. I was choosing words that coordinated with classroom instruction and words that...
Morning Message 3: Word Study and Conventions
One day last week as we gathered to read the morning message, hands waved and eager voices jumped right in. “I see the!” “Me too—and in!” “What does that big...
Weaving Words Throughout the School Year
Some words feel wonderful in your mouth: benevolent, pashmina, Constantinople. They roll right off one’s tongue and into one’s imagination. Words hold meaning and are the building blocks of all...
Partnering Phonics and Poetry
I'm wondering, like I've wondered many times before, how I can fit in more time for phonics instruction for the beginning readers I teach. I know my students need more...
Eight Phonemic Awareness Activities for Morning Meeting
“Hello, Zo-e,” I said to a kindergarten student as the other four students followed along. They had their hands under their chins, counting how many times their chins dropped. “That’s...
Be the Teacher
You know that “teacher dread"? It happens when you think your students understand a concept, but then you watch as they complete an assessment and realize—Wow! I misjudged that. Later,...
Teaching Character Traits
This PD2Go focuses on digging deeper into defining character traits by pairing a conference led by Clare Landrigan with an article about analyzing character traits by Gigi McAllister. Gigi McAllister shares...
Playing with Words
Many years ago I attended an exceptional keynote address about supporting vocabulary development through content areas. I typed quickly, capturing the words of wisdom, and brought the ideas back to...
Fun with Sight Words
I love learning my SIGHT WORDS! I have fun with SIGHT WORDS! This musical ditty rang loud and proud through the first-grade wing in my school. Hearing this musical excitement...
Using Shared Writing to Nudge Students Toward Conventional Spelling
I reached out to Nikki, my literacy coach, with this question: How do I shift great letter-sound correspondence to conventional spelling? From discussing ideas and things I was seeing in...
Kindergarten: Sight Word Learning
Hayley Whitaker's kindergartners spend their transition time learning sight words.
Quick and Easy Word Study Groups in First Grade
When I listened to Ellin Keene present at a workshop years ago, I was particularly interested in her information about how word study fits into a reading workshop model. She...
Grammar Games
In Tony Wagner’s book Creating Innovators, he talks about the importance of passion, purpose, and play for young learners. Although I can’t always infuse passion into the realm of grammar,...
The Importance of Correct Examples
I have not had many struggles with spelling and conventions in my life. That being said, there are a couple of words I know are hard for me. Embarrass is...
Word Walls in Preschool? Yes, You Can!
“What’s wrong?” I asked, spying Mona’s long face. She launched into a tirade. “They are insisting that I put up a word wall. They have a rule that all classrooms...
Quick Vocabulary Practice and Assessment
If I have learned one thing from my students, it’s that any activity, no matter how fun or engaging, quickly turns into drudgery if it is overused. I especially find...
Envisioning Writing in First Grade
In this minilesson, Katie DiCesare helps her first-grade students "envision" their writing drafts. The lesson focuses on creating mental images to conjure up stronger verbs and adjectives while writing.
