Students do not automatically see the relationship between spelling words and reading words. Word hunts help them make this important connection. In word hunts, students hunt through their reading and writing for words that are additional examples of their spelling sound(s) or pattern(s) of the week. (from: Words Their Way: Word Study for Phonics, Vocabulary, and Spelling Instruction)
What does a word hunt look like at SCHOOL (Thursday in-class activity)?
What does a word hunt look like at HOME (Wednesday homework activity)?
What does a word hunt look like at SCHOOL (Thursday in-class activity)?
- Students may hunt for words as individuals or in groups.
- Each group is provided with a "book bag" full of books that contain words following their spelling pattern.
- Students also have access to online books and magazines through the classroom desktop and laptop computers.
- Students record found words in their purple Spelling Activity book, making sure to sort the words into the appropriate categories.
What does a word hunt look like at HOME (Wednesday homework activity)?
- Children look in a book they have already read for words that have the same sound, pattern, or both as their word list.
- They find about 2-3 words for each category. (Found words may or may not be recorded in the purple Spelling Activity book).
- Parents are asked to assist their children with this activity.