Words Their Way...THEIR Way

I found this spelling activity on Pinterest and I thought my students would enjoy it because they are a very kinesthetic group. I thought they would enjoy a break from Speed Sorts, Blind Writing Sorts, Word Hunts and other typical Words Their Way activities. I am new to Words Their Way, so maybe adding in a different type of activity that is not part of the program in a no-no, but I know I need to keep my students fresh and hooked. They understand the routines used in Words Their Way, but every now and then it is good to disrupt a routine with something new.

 

 

They worked with their writing partners to roll a number cube and complete a corresponding activity.

 

This may seem like a simple activity for 3rd graders to do, but some of my spellers practiced their words more times than I had ever seen them do before. My reluctant writers and spellers enjoyed this activity because it was a novelty.

 

Some of the students used their sorting mentality from Words Their Way and wrote similar words in columns using the activities from the number cube activity!

Magnetic Suffixes

At this point in the school year, I have put away the majority of my word work centers so that students can focus more on comprehension and extension skills.  However, I have some students who need practice adding suffixes to verbs. They have trouble making spelling changes and using irregular verb forms.  I created an activity where students have the root/base word (verb) written on a paint sample card along with suffixes to change the verb. They must use magnetic letters to write the new word forms.  To check their work, they turn the cards over to compare the answer key with their spelling.

Word Wall

There are numerous activities on the internet and in books that describe how to arrange your Word Wall. I add words that I think my students should know how to read, spell, and use in conversation and in writing after we have studied them.  My wall is organized alphabetically. I write the vowels in red. I cut around the shape of the words. I leave them up all year.  I also have a Social Studies wall that contains content vocabulary.  On that wall, I take the words down after we finish a unit and put them in a baggie.  The baggies hang on the wall so that students can go back and use them later.

These are activity choices that students can do using the Word Walls.

• Use the spinner and do the activities listed on it.
• Give your partner a clue and they have to guess which word you are describing.
• Write a sentence but leave a word blank. Your partner has to fill in the blank with a Word Wall word.
• Choose a word and code it with CLOVER.
• Draw a picture of a word and your partner has to guess it.
• Act out a word and your partner has to guess it.
• Create a Tree Map and sort the words that are on one of the cupboards.

Word Threads

In this center I have sets of beads that are individual letters, whole words and some shapes.  Students use their weekly vocabulary or word study lists and thread the letters of the words onto the string. They can string some of the word beads along with the letters and try to create a sentence. They can use one of the shapes as punctuation. For a challenge, instead of vowels, they can thread one of the shapes and ask another student to guess the word.  Be mindful of students that have difficulty with fine motor skills.

Word Bending

This center is common in elementary schools. I have a bag filled with pipe cleaners in a variety of thicknesses, color, and textures.  Students use the pipe cleaners to create the letters of the words on their weekly vocabulary or word study list. They can leave the letters apart and spell the words or they can connect them together as a whole word. For a challenge, students can sort the words into categories such as nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Remind students to untwist the letters before putting them back in the bag. For some reason, I have found that this center is calming for students who have behavior issues or who are ADHD.  On the other hand, if you have a student who is a perfectionist they sometimes do not like this center.

Textured Spelling

Students place a piece of paper over the textured mat. I found an old woven plastic placemat. You could also use one of the flat grids from the craft store that people use for needlework.  Students use a crayon or marker and copy their weekly vocabulary or word study list onto the paper. When they are finished, they show the words to someone else and see if that student can read the words. For a challenge, the student can close his eyes when writing the words and use the sense of touch to see if they can still write the words correctly.

Sticky Situation

I have a bag filled with a variety of alphabet stickers. They vary in size, color, texture, and font.  These materials appeal to students with sensory issues. 

Students use the alphabet stickers to spell out weekly vocabulary or word study lists. For a challenge, students could only stick on the consonants and have a partner fill in the missing vowels. As another extension, students could use CLOVER to code the words.

Spot On Spelling

I saw a few versions of this center in other blogs and on Pinterest.  It is good to have a basket of scrap paper for students to use when they are in this center.  Remind students to put the cap back on tightly. Also remind them not to shove down on the stamper or squeeze the bottle--this will make a mess.

Students use the Bingo stamper to make dots to spell out their weekly vocabulary or word study list.  They could a different version by writing the words with a pencil and stamping only at the letter intersections. Then they can connect the dots with a marker to spell the word.

Sparkle Spelling

I try to provide my students with centers that appeal to a variety of learning styles. I try to incorporate a variety of senses also.  This center is meant to entice the reluctant student to use some fun confetti and practice their spelling. I keep the confetti in a plastic pencil box. I have a mixture of different shapes and colors, but you could also change out the confetti to be seasonal. This center is sort of the counterpart to Soft and Fuzzy Spelling!

Students use the sparkle pieces to spell out their weekly vocabulary or word study list. They could also write the words with a pencil and place sparkles only on the letter intersections. They can connect the sparkles with a marker to spell the words.

Soft and Fuzzy Spelling

I try to provide my students with centers that appeal to a variety of learning styles. I try to incorporate a variety of senses also.  This is a quiet, calm, and relaxing activity for students that may have sensory issues.  This center is the counterpart to Sparkle Spelling.

Students use the fuzzy balls to spell out their weekly vocabulary or word study list.  They can also write the words with a pencil and place balls only on the intersections in the letters. Then they connect the balls with a marker to spell the word.
 

Scrambled Spelling

I found foam alphabet stickers and I put them on paint sample cards. I made four or five of each letter. The letter cards are in baggies.  You could also put them in envelopes, but make sure you write the letter on the outside. 

Students take out their spelling or vocabulary list. They will work with a partner and each will choose a word from the list.  They will use the letter cards to sscramble the words. Then they give the stack of letters to their partner and challenge the partner to unscramble the letters and spell the word correctly. For a challenge, the students can use the words in sentences.

Rainbow Words

This is an activity that all primary teachers have been doing for years in one way or another.  Maybe it was a flower with a word family written in the middle and letters on the petals or a sailboat on a lake that had a word family and the sail had the letters. An evening of surfing on Pinterest combined the average word family lists and my adoration of paint sample cards...

...I seriously believe I am responsible for hundreds of paint sample cards being taken each year!  Lowes and Walmart must think I am an interior designer. They are sturdier and prettier than index cards. You can use them for matching games. You can use them for I Have Who Has. You can color code questions for Guided Reading based on Marzano's levels. They are FREE!

Anyways, this is how the center works. This center is meant for readers needing practice in phonemic awareness.  You could adapt it though by using prefixes and suffixes for independent readers. Students select a rainbow strip and a word family card with a hole in it.  They slide the rainbow strip underneath the word family card to spell new words.  They read each word out loud and then use the words in sentences either orally with a partner or written on paper.

Click here for a link to fabulous blog that contains ALL of the word families, diagraphs, blends, and over 500 words to make!  It also shows you how this teacher uses the paint samples.

Play Dough Words

Students roll the play dough into pieces to form the letters of their weekly vocabulary or word study list.  They can also flatten out a piece of play dough and carve the words into it. Remind students to put the lids on tightly. I like using the little containers of dough that are at Dollar Tree because their lids come off more easily for children. For some reason I also find that it stays moist longer.

Magnetic Rhyming and Magnetic Sight Words

Magnetic letters are very popular in elementary classrooms.  I put my letters in fishing tackle boxes because the compartments keep the letters organized.  I use cookie sheets for the letters to adhere to.  I have seen some teachers conver the cookie sheets with contact paper to make it look decorative, but some children have a hard time reading the words against a patterned background.  If you do use contact paper for decoration, make sure it is solid.

RHYMING VERSION: students have their partner choose a card from the deck and read a word from that card.The student then uses the magnetic letters to create words that rhyme with their partner's word. Students record their rhyming words on the record sheet.

SIGHT WORD VERSION: students have their partner choose a card from the deck and read the word aloud.The student then uses the magnetic letters to create the word. Then they must use the word in a sentence. For a challenge, have student mix the letters up for the partner to unscramble.

Letter Stamps

I'm sure this is a basic staple in any primary grade literacy centers.  Students use the alphabet stamps to spell out weekly vocabulary or word study lists. For a challenge, stamp out only the consonants and have a partner fill in the missing vowels. For an additional, use CLOVER to code the words.  Remind students to put the lid on the stamp pad when they are cleaning up. Put your scrap paper in a basket for students to use for stamping.

I add glitter to my "magic e" and red feathers to the r-controlled for a

rooster sound reminder!



Keyboard Key Words

I cut the cord off of an old broken keyboard. This allows students to practice typing without you having to sacrifice computer time for other students.  Student use the keyboard to type their weekly vocabulary words or word study list. Make sure you include a chart to show which fingers are used to type the correct keys. For a challenge, students can type the words with their eyes closed.

This center is a good way to allow low level students to practice spelling without an actual written work product. It is a "safe" activity for them because no one can see their mistakes or their low level words.  The kinesthetic action of typing is also a good way to meet the needs of students with behavioral issues because it forces them to focus and the repetitive action can actually be calming.

Hangman

This game is an oldie, but goodie, that can be adapted to become a learning center.  I use this game as a way for students to practice drawing conclusions and spelling simultaneously.  I also link it to Science and Social Studies content by providing flash cards that have facts about the planets, presidents, geography, and animals. Students can choose either the magnetic game or the paper pad.  Plain pieces of paper can also be used. 

One student reads through the fact cards and reads it aloud. Then he selects a word from the text. Now they follow the normal directions for the game and try to get the other partner to guess the word. Students take turns so each person has a chance to guess. They record the words guessed on the record sheet.

Glitter Words

Students write their weekly vocabulary or word study list on paper using liquid glue.  Then they sprinkle the glitter over the glue. Remind student to make sure to leave enough space between the letters. For a challenge, leave out the vowels and have a friend guess the word and fill in the vowels with a marker. After the glue is dry, students close their eyes and run their fingers over the glitter words to see if they can "feel" the words. This a great center for kinesthetic learners.

If your students are familiar with CLOVER, they can use a marker to split and code the words while they are waiting for the glue to dry.

Foam Letter Blends

In this center I have foam letters from a puzzle and a deck of cards that contain words with consonant blends.  One partner chooses a card from the deck and reads a word from the card.  The other partner uses the foam letters to create more words that also have that same blend.  The first partner uses the card to check the other partners words.  For a challenge the students can say or write the words in sentences.  They write the words created on the record sheet. 

Floating Words

I got this center idea on Pinterest.  I saw it designed a couple of different ways, but this is my take on it!

This center uses empty bubble tubes and alphabet beads.  Each bubble tube is filled with water and letters. The letters spell out certain words. Students gently shake the tube to see all of the scrambled letters. They record the words on the record sheet next to the tube's number (which can be found on the lid).

I chose words that my students always seem to struggle with spelling.  I posted a color-coded list to tell them what words they are trying to spell.  Some of the word are from the basic sight word list.  Others are more challenging.

fat tubes = words that begin with Q
pink tubes = words that begin with W
blue tubes = reading strategy words (connect, clarify, predict, summarize, compare, contrast, infer, conclude, etc)