Effective Word Work Time

I re-posted this from another blog I host, but added a list of apps that can be used to teach word work.....

I've recently become interested in activities that take place during word work time. Pretty soon I found myself searching for activities that seem to be the most effective instructional practices to use in the classroom. 

Sorting 
Students sort words into according to certain criteria, which helps them learn patterns within words. According to the Words Their Way word study program, there are different types of sorts that can be used during word work time.

• Sound sort -- using the phonemes in the words or pictures
• Pattern sort -- grouping words following a certain pattern
• Meaning sort -- words with same meanings have similar spelling patterns
• Concept sort -- link vocabulary with student understanding
• Closed sort -- teacher gives students the categories/headers to use with this sort.
• Open sort -- student determine categories and sort own words
• Repeated sort -- allow student to work through the sort more than one time.
• Buddy sort -- sort, read, and discuss collaboratively throughout the sort with another student.
• Blind sort -- headers are used and student indicates where the word belongs.
• Writing sort -- writing words into categories, students are paying attention to sounds or patterns.
• Word sort -- student hunt through their reading and writing  words for additional examples
• Speed sort -- using a timer and comparing their own speeds with sorts

Resources to use with sorting:

• Speed Sort Documentation Template
• Instructional Sheets for the Different Sorts (scroll to the bottom of page for links)
• Word Sort Center Packet (Google Doc.)
• Powerpoint for WTW Sorts (check this out!)

Practicing Words

• Whiteboards (use with a buddy, one student says the word and the other student writes the word on whiteboard)
• Write with dry erase marker on desktop
• Spelling City website or app
• Bang Game...drawing cards out of container, read word, keep if right, put back if wrong, if bang card all your cards go back in container.

Apps for Word Work
Magnetic Board for teachers and students 
Magnetic ABC
Alphabetizing
ABC Ninja
Spelling Sight Words With Scaffolding
Sight Words
Sound Sorting Beginning Sounds

Additional Resources

Words Their Way Activities

Sound Board for Beginning Consonants (black/white)

Sound Board for Beginning Consonants (color)

Sound Board for Beginning Blends (black/white)

Sound Board for Beginning Blends (color)
Spelling Chunks & Chunk Strips

Word Families and Examples

Long Vowel Word Race & Long Vowel Dominoes (scroll down to links)

Spin a Word -- Prefix Word Building Game (scroll down to link)

SMART board Games (scroll for link)

Phonogram Connect Four Game

Consonant Digraph Board Game

WTW Board Variety Games -- Google Doc.

ABC Teach Word Family Slides

Creative Word Study Activities

Carl's Corner

Can anyone suggest further effective activities?

Math vs. Zombies

Math vs. Zombies

You can find this app in the iTunes store for FREE!! Zombies are attacking and you can turn them back into children by solving math problems. This app gives good practice for 2-3 digit mental math addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems. 

How to "Zite"

The Zite Personalized Magazine App (Free) can be an educator's best friend when locating the latest professional development, lesson plans, or trends in education. This fairly new app is a fun way to create your own "personalized magazine".

After purchasing the free app you will see how easy it is to set up your Zite. You will pick sections to go into your magazine, along with enter some of your own. Some sections I recommend are shown in the following screenshot. 

This app gives you clear pictures of each article and has easy personalization options. Summer is dwindling and it's almost time to get back in the swing of school, hopefully you will find this app one that will get you motivated. Enjoy!

Factor Samurai and Prime Smash!

Here are two apps that could provide students with fluency practice on factoring and prime numbers. The object of both games is to break each number apart until there are only prime numbers left, either by a samurai sword or smashing the numbers with your finger. Both the apps are free at this time.

Factor Samurai (FREE)

Below is a screenshot of "How to Play" Factor Samurai.

Prime Smash (FREE)

Below is the screenshot for "How to Play" Prime Smash!

Fraction Frenzy!!!

Fraction Factory (Free) App that allows students to place fractions on a number line, using the decimal equivalent as a helper. Simple app that would be good practice for students learning how fractions relate to decimals and the number line.


Fraction Basics (Free) Great app that breaks down fractions into basic understanding to dividing fractions. Each section is broken down into smaller video segments that explains and provides examples for those learning the concepts. This could be a good homework helper!


Tic Tac Math Fractions ($4.99) Bit expensive, but if you buy it through the Volume Purchasing Store it is half price. Students can partner up and play against each other. Varying levels from beginner to expert. Worth the money...good practice once students have understand addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of fractions.


Pizza Fractions: Beginning with Simple Fractions (Free) Use this app when you have already taught students the basic fractions (whole, half, thirds, fourths, fifths, and sixths) Students can use this app to build fluency recognizing fractions of a circle (or pizza). Each round gives the student 10 questions and keeps their time for the round. 


Pizza Fractions: Comparing Simple Fractions ($.99) I haven't played this app, but it looks similar to the app mentioned above, just comparing two fractions, using the pizzas to give students the visual of each fraction.


Just Fractions ($1.99) Haven't used this app, looks like students can add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions. They also have options to Find LCD, Decimals,  and Definitions.


Basic Fraction (Free) Found this one randomly and I like how students use their finger to solve the problems on the whiteboard before punching in their answers. Students can solve for "x" which makes it a fun app for older students.


Math Tappers: Estimate Fractions (Free) Using a number line users move fractions to their estimated position. Really simple and would be great was to practice fraction fluency. If you place the fraction in the wrong position, immediate feedback through a picture of the fraction as a whole.



Fractions ($.99) Haven't used this app, but looks like it is for younger learners with a wide scope of concepts.


**All pictures are from the iTunes preview site for each app

Money....Money....Money

If you haven't yet played Cash Cow, you will need to download the free version and check it out! The educational concepts in this game involve helping students learn what combination of coins equal a quarter and what combination of coins equals a dollar. If your students need help with those concepts and need a little motivation, this app is the one to use.


The following is a list of other apps that can help enforce the concepts of coins, making change, or coin recognition....


Coin Math ($1.99) This one is my favorite out of this list because of the varying levels for most tasks.


Counting Bills & Coins (Free) This app is also good, just not as many features.


Count Money-Coin Matching Games for Kids ($.99) Screenshots look promising, have purchased other apps from this company and they were worth it.


Thanks for the idea Jechort!

Five Ways to Use the Popplet App

This is another of my favorites.....Popplet!

#1 Make a sort for your students (example..odd/even). Students can take a picture with the Ipad and send it to their teacher as the assessment piece of the activity.

#2 Have students create concept maps (example...pairs). Again, have students take a picture of their finished map. Good way to build vocabulary!

#3 Make three popplet bubbles (beginning, middle, end), I would project this on the Activboard (SMART board) to the class. After reading a story, have students fill in the popplet bubbles with a short summary of the part of the story. 

#4 Use popplet for a different way students could present a report to their class....Click here to see a History Report

#5 Popplet can be a great way to create timelines....insert pictures, videos, etc.

Have fun with Popplet!!!

Ideas for Red Laser App

This app has some instructional possibilities in the classroom.....

Free App.... Red Laser

Idea 1: Have some items (ex. cereal boxes, soup cans, books etc...anything with a barcode) and have students use the Red Laser app to scan the barcodes on the items. Tell the students that they each have $50 to spend to get the best deals for their money. Students can use the following worksheet to recored their work.  

Idea 2: This app also will generate QR code for the user...I could see teachers using this app for that purpose. Once the QR code is created it can easily be emailed or saved in your photos on the ipad/ipod for later use. The idea of a scavenger hunt using QR codes sounds interesting to me and will probably be something I try in the next few months. The following are a couple links about QR code and some ideas to use in education.....


Using QR Codes in the Classroom

QR Codes in Education Livebinders