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Synopsis of the Word Study Curriculum |
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| Middlebury Community Schools | ||
An effective word study system is part of a strong literacy program. We have designed a word study system that:
- Includes a short, specific, focused class lesson during a morning class or community meeting followed by a short time for independent student application and practice. (This part takes place beginning in kindergarten and first grade.)
- Follows a structured routine that is easy to implement and requires minimal teacher time.
- Maximizes student engagement and responsibility for their learning.
- Provides for cooperative learning.
- Provides opportunities for multilevel learning.
- Leads to the development of strategies for spelling.
- Helps students learn both individual words and spelling patterns that can be generalized.
- Values spelling as part of the writing process.
- Provides for modification to meet individual needs.
The system is highly structured to allow for efficient teaching and independent student learning; however, within the structure are many opportunities for flexible and open-ended thinking so that students can make the kinds of connections that will help them spell many words beyond the specific examples they are studying.