Resource Review: Words Their Way

Words Their Way is an assessment-based program that allows educators to evaluate and set a plan for their student's spelling and orthographic development. It is a differentiated/levelled approach to spelling and word work with detail instructions for teachers and students. Students are able to practice, learn and play with words while creating literary connections to the curriculum. Differentiation allows students to sort words based on their ability levels and in turn help them identify and associate each term, letter,  and sound. Words their Way includes assessment, course redesign,  scalability,  and emerging learning models. It has a targeted learner principle that helps teachers clarify which students will benefit most from different instruction.

 This resource is perfect for a diagnostic assignment of a students spelling ability. It is started with a simple, and old-fashioned spelling test. Students are then assessed and categorized by language concepts and given a word sorting activity. Over time each activity will become more complex and increase in difficulty. Word their Way is listed as an Instructional Intervention Tool on the National Center on Intensive Intervention at American Institute for Research.

Below is a video of Words Their Way being applied in the classroom, check out Words Their Way in action!

My Thoughts:      

       This is a great program to observe and record the progression of each student, however, I wonder about the consolidation stage of the program. What else can students take away from this program? I love the idea of differentiation, but will teachers have time to produce all elements and implement constant change in the group progression? As observed in practice, Words Their Way begins as a very time-consuming task. To prepare and set up each activity with the children, a good amount of prep time will need to be allocated to this activity. Lastly, minor but concerning; is there a large difference between American and Canadian spelling? Food for thought...