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What About Word Study? Phonics Instruction

in the Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop Classroom

By Suzanne Ackley, Supervisor of Intervention Services, Franklin Township
and Anthony Benjamin, Principal, Highland Park

There are people in the field about word study?” Where does it fit tal spelling approach that was imple-
of education who believe within the literacy block? What are mented was the teacher’s ability to
teachers using to deliver appropriate
differentiate instruction to the student’s
that it is not necessary to phonics instruction for each child in exact developmental level.
include spelling as part of the classroom? Students were initially assessed in
literacy instruction because These are some of the questions the September with a spelling inventory;
they were reassessed in January
principal and supervisor asked them-
of our access to technology. selves as they began piloting use of and then again in June. The major
Imagine being in a school district in a developmental spelling approach to difference between developmental
phonics instruction. Students in the el-
spelling instruction for word study
which there is no phonics instruction ementary grade levels needed support and the traditional spelling instruction
within the English Language Arts in the area of word study so that letter/ from a textbook is that the students
curriculum. How will kids learn to apply sound knowledge could positively study a not-yet-mastered phonics
letter/sound knowledge while reading impact their literacy levels in read- skill, determined by their assessment
or writing without phonics instruction? ing and increase their overall writing results, for two weeks at a time. After
Balanced literacy instruction includes abilities. Students in this school setting two weeks of word study instruction
phonics instruction along with reading were from a diverse range of needs the student then demonstrates his or
and writing strategies (Retrieved from as learners, from those receiving ESL her ability to use that phonics pattern
http://www.k12reader.com/balanced- services to those who had IEPs and correctly. If the student does not have
literacy-instruction/). As schools were in inclusive classrooms. One of mastery of the phonics skill, the word
embrace the workshop model in their the major benefits of the developmen- study can continue with that skill
classrooms, they need to ask, “what

Educational Viewpoints -102- Spring 2018