Developmental Spelling Stages Words Their Way Classroom aligns students’ spelling development into the following five research-based stages. This developmental model recognizes the synchronous nature of reading, writing, and spelling, and has identifi ed common characteristics of reader, writers, and spellers along the literacy continuum. You’ll find more details in the Implementation Guide.

The following chart will give you a sense of what stage your students will be placed at in Words Their Way Classroom.

Characteristics of Word Knowledge Sample Student Work Spelling Samples Word Study Focus

Emergent–Early Letter Name• Neglect to use any sound-symbol

correspondence•••••

Concepts SortsRhyming PairsBeginning consonantsBlends and DiagraphsShort-Vowel Word Families

• Represent strongest sounds witha single letter

• Have an incomplete knowledgeof alphabet

Letter Name*

• Apply the alphabet literally usingthe letter names to spell sounds

•••••••

B, BD, BAD for bedS, SHP, SEP for shipL, LP. LOP for lumpU for youBAKR for bakerDADT for daddyGRUM for drum

•••••••

Beginning ConsonantsBlends and DigraphsSame Vowel Word FamiliesMixed Vowel Word FamiliesAffricatesShort VowelsPreconsonantal Nasal

• Spell phonetically; represent moststrong sounds and beginningconsonants

• Omit most silent letters andpreconsonantal nasals

Word Study in Action Developmental Model

TM

Characteristics of Word Knowledge Sample Student Work Spelling Samples Word Study Focus

Within Word Pattern• Correctly spell most single-

syllable, short vowel words, beginning consonant diagraphs, and two-letter consonant blends

••••••

SNAIK for snakeFELE for feelFLOTE for fl oatBRIET for brightSPOLE for spoilCHUED for chewed

•••••••

Long Vowels (CVCe)Other Common Long-Vowel Patternsr-Infl uenced Vowel PatternsDiphthongs and Vowel DigraphsComplex Consonant ClustersHomophones

• Attempt to use silent long-vowelmarkers

• Use but confuse long-vowelpatterns

Syllables and Affi xes*• Connect word knowledge with

vocabulary growth•••••

SHOPING for shoppingKEPER for keeperSELLER for cellarAMAZZING for amazingPERRAIDING for parading

••••••

Compound WordsInfl ected EndingsOpen and Closed SyllablesAccented SyllablesUnaccented SyllablesPrefi xes and Suffi xes

• Correctly spell most single-syllable, short- and long-vowelwords and high-frequency words

• Make errors at syllable juncturepoints and in unaccented syllables

Derivational Relations• Connect word knowledge with

vocabulary growth••

•

•

OPPISITION for oppositionTERADACTIL for pterodactylPROHABITION for prohibitionEXHILERATE for exhilarate

•••

Prefi xes and Suffi xesGreek and Latin RootsAssimilated Prefi xes• Spell most words correctly

• Make errors on low-frequencymultisyllabic words derived fromLatin and Greek forms

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