Sorting Out Word Sorts!

This week, we're going to look back on all the words we've found so far for our blogs this semester and see if we can create a closed word sort with these words!

Here's what I'd like you to do. Let's imagine that we are working with a "Within Word" speller. (We'll learn more about the different stages of spelling in a later module.) This speller needs work examining long vowels.

• Choose one long vowel on which the student will focus. Go back through your words and try to find 10 words that fit this pattern. (You may need to brainstorm more words, e.g., superhero or grocery words that would fit if you don't find enough.)
  

• The key to a good word sort is setting up a scaffold of support for your student. So you'll want to choose a contrasting category so your student can contrast a pattern he knows with this new one. For long vowels, a good contrasting pattern would be the short vowel, e.g., contrast cat (short vowel) and cape (long vowel). Again, go back through your blog and try to find 10 words that fit this pattern.
  

• Choose a key word for each category to establish the categories clearly for your student. (Note: If you were actually doing this sort with a young reader, you'd likely want to start with one-syllable words.)

In your blog entry, make sure to include the following information:

• What long vowel phonics element did you decide on as the focus of your study?
• Does your sort focus on the alphabetic, pattern, or meaning layer of spelling? (Revisit the article on what teachers ask about spelling or our tags posted in the last module if you're still working out the difference.)
• What are the words you'll use (including the key word)? List them all and sort them into the two categories. (Or see if a friend can sort them!)
  
• What did you discover when you sorted your words into two categories?
  
• Can you think of a meaningful text you could give children in which they could follow the sort with a word hunt for the features you've focused on?