Word Study

Understanding the connections between words is part of what makes reading such a delicious experience. This also helps children build word webs, essential for deep reading. Once children are reading at the word level (see our phonetic reading cards and puzzle words), they are ready to dive into word study!

Word study always begins with spoken language lessons. For example, you might sit with a small group of children and say, "Let's play a word game. I'm thinking of words that make a new word when you put them together. Star...fish. Starfish! Gum...drop. Gumdrop! What words can you think of?" Encourage them to think of as many as they can. If it helps, download our word study lesson plan (PDF).

The cards and charts come next. Here is where the children can lay their hands on language and mix it up to learn more about it. Word study activities are great for one child to do alone or for two children to work on together.