Word Study

In  our class we use the Fountas and Pinnell Buddy Study Program.  With this word study program, students pick their words to study each week.  The sources they use to pick words is from the weekly chart of words we make as a class, based on a sound concept for the week, and their own list of high frequency words they need to learn.  Before we start the program, I spend a few weeks assessing the students on the words they know how to spell already from the High Frequency Lists. Then the words not known on these lists, become the words they choose from each week for there word list. This year I am assessing them on their knowledge of  the Grade 2 High Frequency Word list first.  Then as this list is mastered, students will move to the Grade 3 High Frequency Word list.

High Frequency Words Lists

In the Buddy Study Program, there are different routines that are done each week to help students learn words. Students are also assigned a Buddy Study partner that they will work with throughout the week.  The picture below shows an outline of the parts of the program done throughout the week.  

When students choose words on Mondays, the words are chosen from two places: from the list of words we created as a class, based on the  phonetic principle taught that week, and the students' own list of high frequency words they need to learn. (This is from the list of words that I assessed their spelling on at the beginning of the school year.)  Each student will copy their words on an index  card. This means that each word list is individualized to each students' spelling needs.  So 18 different word lists in the class at once.  I try my best to make sure everything in copied correctly on their index card and homework word lists, but errors may be made in spelling from time to time. 

I also add an activity, a making word activity or game, to help reinforce the phonic concept for the week.  From time to time, students may be asked to write their list words in sentences to help with the comprehension of the words.

At the end of the week, the students will have Buddy Test on their list words from the week.  This test is given by the Buddies, to each other, but corrected by the teacher.