Word-Form Recognition Accuracy, Word Sorts

Grade: 1, 2, 3

Group Size: Small Group, Large Group, Whole Class

Length: 10 minutes

Materials: A deck of cards that contains each word recognition word learned so far for each pair of players (ideally, about 20 cards in a deck)

Goal: goal = Given a written regular word, the student can say the word with automaticity ( abc -> "abc" ).

Items: All word-recognition words learned so far

What to do

Hand out a deck of cards to each pair of students, face down.
Today we are going to do a word sort, but before we begin, let’s read through all the words we are going to sort. Divide your deck of cards in half so that each person has ten cards. Now, read the words on your cards silently. After 30 seconds, quiz your partner by having him or her read all the words on your cards without sounding them out aloud. Remember, if you need to sound out a word, please do so silently and then say the word aloud quickly (model this). Make sure to help your partner if needed. Notify the students after 30 seconds have passed. Then walk around the room to make sure that they are reading correctly.
Now combine your word cards into one pile. With your partner, please sort your words into categories of your choice. For example, I would put strict and string into the same group because both words begin with an st.
Possible sort categories include: same initial/final sound, same digraphs, same blends, same number of letters, same vowel sounds.
After all pairs are finished sorting their words, ask each pair of students to explain their word categories either to the whole class or to another pair of students.