- Words Their Way is a word study program in which students learn by sorting words into categories.
- The following links provide PowerPoints that can be used by teachers to model the word sorts or have individual students access the sorts on the computer.
Letter Name Alphabetic Sort
Sort 27 Sort 28 Sort 29 Sort 30 Sort 31 Sort 32 Sort 33 Sort 38 Sort 39 Sort 40
Sort 41 Sort 42 Sort 43 Sort 44 Sort 45 Sort 46 Sort 47 Sort 48 Sort 49 Sort 50
Sort short a/ar
*Sorry, I do not have PowerPoints available for sorts that contain pictures (sorts 1-27 and sorts 34-37 are picture sorts)
Sort 41 Sort 42 Sort 43 Sort 44 Sort 45 Sort 46 Sort 47 Sort 48 Sort 49 Sort 50
Sort short a/ar
*Sorry, I do not have PowerPoints available for sorts that contain pictures (sorts 1-27 and sorts 34-37 are picture sorts)
Within Word Pattern Sorts
Sort 11 Sort 12 Sort 13 Sort 14 Sort 15 Sort 16 Sort 17 Sort 18 Sort 19 Sort 20
Sort 21 Sort 22 Sort 23 Sort 24 Sort 25 Sort 26 Sort 27 Sort 28 Sort 29 Sort 30
Sort 31 Sort 32 Sort 33 Sort 38 Sort 39 Sort 40 Sort 41 Sort 42 Sort 43 Sort 44
Sort 45 Sort 46 Sort 47-1 Sort 47-2 Sort 48-1 Sort 48-2
* Sorry, I do not have PowerPoints available for sorts that contain pictures (sorts 1-10 in Within Word Pattern are picture sorts)
Sort 21 Sort 22 Sort 23 Sort 24 Sort 25 Sort 26 Sort 27 Sort 28 Sort 29 Sort 30
Sort 31 Sort 32 Sort 33 Sort 38 Sort 39 Sort 40 Sort 41 Sort 42 Sort 43 Sort 44
Sort 45 Sort 46 Sort 47-1 Sort 47-2 Sort 48-1 Sort 48-2
* Sorry, I do not have PowerPoints available for sorts that contain pictures (sorts 1-10 in Within Word Pattern are picture sorts)
Syllables and Affixes Sorts
Sort 1 Sort 2 Sort 3 Sort 4 Sort 5 Sort 6 Sort 7 Sort 8 Sort 9 Sort 10
Sort 11 Sort 12 Sort 13 Sort 14 Sort 15 Sort 16 Sort 17 Sort 18 Sort 19 Sort 20
Sort 21 Sort 22 Sort 23 Sort 24 Sort 25 Sort 26 Sort 27 Sort 28 Sort 29 Sort 30
Sort 31 Sort 32 Sort 33 Sort 38 Sort 39 Sort 40 Sort 41 Sort 42 Sort 43 Sort 44
Sort 45 Sort 46 Sort 47 Sort 48 Sort 49 Sort 50
Sort 11 Sort 12 Sort 13 Sort 14 Sort 15 Sort 16 Sort 17 Sort 18 Sort 19 Sort 20
Sort 21 Sort 22 Sort 23 Sort 24 Sort 25 Sort 26 Sort 27 Sort 28 Sort 29 Sort 30
Sort 31 Sort 32 Sort 33 Sort 38 Sort 39 Sort 40 Sort 41 Sort 42 Sort 43 Sort 44
Sort 45 Sort 46 Sort 47 Sort 48 Sort 49 Sort 50
Derivational Sorts
Sort 1 Sort 2 Sort 3 Sort 4 Sort 5 Sort 6 Sort 7 Sort 8 Sort 9 Sort 10
Sort 11 Sort 12 Sort 13 Sort 14 Sort 15 Sort 16 Sort 17 Sort 18 Sort 19 Sort 20
Sort 21 Sort 22 Sort 23 Sort 24 Sort 25 Sort 26 Sort 27 Sort 28 Sort 29 Sort 30
Sort 11 Sort 12 Sort 13 Sort 14 Sort 15 Sort 16 Sort 17 Sort 18 Sort 19 Sort 20
Sort 21 Sort 22 Sort 23 Sort 24 Sort 25 Sort 26 Sort 27 Sort 28 Sort 29 Sort 30
Ways to Sort Words
1) Teacher-directed closed sort: You define the categories, model the sort, and and then have students complete it. ("This sort is for _________ words and ___________ words." "I’m going to start with___________ and ___________." "It will go in the __________ column." "Can you finish the sort?")
2) Student-directed closed sort: As kids are ready, they create the categories and sort. You check for accuracy. ("Can you tell me how you sorted?" "What do you notice about _________ words?" "Tell me about your oddball words.")
3) Word Hunt: Students would hunt through reading and writing, in books, on signs, etc. for additional examples of the sound or pattern they were studying. They would write the words they found in the appropriate columns.
4) Draw and Label / Cut and Paste: Young spellers are given drawing paper that has been divided into columns headed by a key letter. They cut out pictures that begin with each letter and glue them into the appropriate column. Some students may be able to draw the pictures instead.
5) Speed Sort: Some students will enjoy using a stopwatch to time how quickly they can sort their words and work toward improvement as the week progresses.
6.) Writing Sort: Follow the same procedure as with a blind sort – but this time, students write each word in its appropriate column. This is a good one to use toward the end of the week when preparing for the weekly check in.
7) Blind sort: In partners, students work together reading each word to one another. Students point to the column (on a clear desk or table) where each word should go. Mistakes are addressed as they occur.
1) Teacher-directed closed sort: You define the categories, model the sort, and and then have students complete it. ("This sort is for _________ words and ___________ words." "I’m going to start with___________ and ___________." "It will go in the __________ column." "Can you finish the sort?")
2) Student-directed closed sort: As kids are ready, they create the categories and sort. You check for accuracy. ("Can you tell me how you sorted?" "What do you notice about _________ words?" "Tell me about your oddball words.")
3) Word Hunt: Students would hunt through reading and writing, in books, on signs, etc. for additional examples of the sound or pattern they were studying. They would write the words they found in the appropriate columns.
4) Draw and Label / Cut and Paste: Young spellers are given drawing paper that has been divided into columns headed by a key letter. They cut out pictures that begin with each letter and glue them into the appropriate column. Some students may be able to draw the pictures instead.
5) Speed Sort: Some students will enjoy using a stopwatch to time how quickly they can sort their words and work toward improvement as the week progresses.
6.) Writing Sort: Follow the same procedure as with a blind sort – but this time, students write each word in its appropriate column. This is a good one to use toward the end of the week when preparing for the weekly check in.
7) Blind sort: In partners, students work together reading each word to one another. Students point to the column (on a clear desk or table) where each word should go. Mistakes are addressed as they occur.