Words Their Way

Words Their Way

The methodology of Words Their Way: Word Study for Phonics, Vocabulary, and Spelling instruction reflects a progression of stages that describe students’ spelling behavior as they move from one level of word knowledge to the next. The stages cited make it easier to understand and recognize the basic strategies that students use to spell. In Words Their Way, these stages have been adapted to correspond to the five specific levels of spelling: Emergent-Early Letter Name, Letter Name, Within Word Pattern, Syllables and Affixes, and Derivational Relations. Recognizing that students are at different developmental stages of word study, as well as, at different levels within a particular stage, will help in differentiating instruction.

(As partially stated on page 6 and 24 of the Words their Way Teacher Resource Guide)