SUMMARY: Chapter 6, Words Their Way

 

Summary Chapter 6 Key Points

Characteristics of Within Word Pattern Spelling

 

 

Chapter six talks about the all of the aspects that have to do with the learning of Students in the Within Word Pattern Stage. This stage is the transitional stage of literacy development when students are still having difficulties in reading and writing to when they become more fluent and can automatically spell many words. This stage can easily span a number of grade levels from first through fourth grade. Students at the beginning of this stage usually read orally and use their finger to point to the words, however, by the end of this stage they are able to read silent and the finger drops away. It is crucial for students in this stage to have a lot of reading practice. They should be reading at least 30 minutes every day in the instructional and/or independent level material.

When we work with vocabulary for this stage it should be focused on “meaning” and not spelling with teachers using sophisticated language in daily interaction. Word-sorts, concept-sorts, read-alouds, vocabulary, and dictionaries are some great ways to encourage orthographic development for these students. The students in this stage are also learning the pattern layer of English spelling. The study of vowel patterns summarizes their word study. They should be learning that there are many more vowel sounds than there are letters that represent those sounds. Students in this stage are also learning the influence of consonants on vowels by working with the CVCe, CVVC, and r-influenced vowels. They are still relying on sound while they are learning patterns. They study homophones (great/grate) and homographs (she can read the article I read). Teachers agree that students in this stage should continue to work with high frequency words such as word walls of about five per week or several week long studies several times through the year.

Phrase to Describe this Stage:

Within Word Pattern Readers are the “Wright Brothers of Readers”.

They have taken flight but have limited elevation

(WTW pg 200).