Writing words as a study technique for spelling is well established. Writing sorts are different than the traditional copying of spelling words however because they require students to write words into categories. By writing their word list into categories, students attend to the sounds or patterns of letters and think about how those words connect with their key words or headers. (The key words or headers are the word cards glued at the beginning of the week.)
What does a writing sort look like at SCHOOL (Wednesday in-class activity)?
What does a writing sort look like at HOME (Thursday homework activity)?
What does a writing sort look like at SCHOOL (Wednesday in-class activity)?
- Students begin by writing key words or headers at the top of their page to label each category.
- They use their word cards or a word list to write (perhaps by copying) their words under the appropriate category.
What does a writing sort look like at HOME (Thursday homework activity)?
- At home, children complete a "blind" writing sort.
- A family member calls out words from the child's word list in a random order.
- The child writes the word down in categories.
- After the whole word list has been read and written, the child is shown the word list to check their spelling.
- Any misspelled words can be called out and written again for a second or third time.
- You may choose to record the "blind" writing sort in the purple Spelling Activity book.