Word Work

Last week the students learned how to practice their word sort rules in a new way.  They learned how to do a blind sort with a partner.  A blind word sort is when a child reads a word without showing it to the other student.  The other student then has to tell them the header that it belongs under or the rule that is in the word.  This helps the students to think about the specific pattern or rule that is being used in the word.  There isn't always an easy way to know which rule is used in a word.  Such as knowing that seed uses an "ee" instead of an "ea".  I told the students the more that they read and write, the better they will become at knowing which rule to use for certain words.  As long as they are using a rule or pattern that matches the sound(s) that they hear in the word is the most important element when spelling unfamiliar words.  They did a great job working in a group to practice the blind sorting of their sort words!