Working with Words

Four Blocks Literacy

“Teachers are focused primarily on systematically teaching children the skills they need to read individual words.” (Erickson &

Koppenhaver, 2007).

What is Working with Words?

Erickson, K., & Koppenhaver, D. (2007). Children with disabilities: reading and writing the four-blocks way. Greensboro, NC: Carson-Dellosa Publishing Company, Inc.

Why is WWW important?

The Working with Words block allows students to:

• learn to read and spell high frequency words

• learn patterns used to decode and spell lots of other words

• transfer word knowledge to own reading and writing

• become fluent, successful and read words with comprehension

• help student understand how words work

Working with Words Stages

The Working with Words block has 2 stages:

• word wall – 10 minutes

• phonics and spelling – 20 minutes

Word Wall Learning-the-Word activities can include:• each week the teacher selects 5 new words to learn putting words in sentence:

• spelling words• clapping• chanting• word jumble• alphabetical ordering• word shapes

On-the-Back Activities• as students become proficient, On-the Back Word Wall activities can be completed:

• add endings to word wall words• put words into sentences

Phonics and Spelling

This part of Working With Words is usually 20-25 minutes. In this time students are learning how to decode and spell new words. Emergent learning can use this time to learn the alphabet.

Types of spelling and decoding activities:• rounding Up-the-‘Rhymes• making Words• guess the covered word• using Words-You-Know• reading/writing rhymes

Alphabet Activities:• alphabet books• alphabet songs• alphabet word sports• alphabet picture sorts

References

All information in this presentation has been sourced from:

• Cunningham, P. M., Hall, D. P., & Sigmon, C. M. (1999). The teacher’s guide to the four blocks. Greensboro, NC: Carson-Dellosa Publishing Company, Inc.

• Erickson, K., & Koppenhaver, D. (2007). Children with disabilities: reading and writing the four-blocks way. Greensboro, NC: Carson-Dellosa Publishing Company, Inc.