August 15, 2011

Daily 3: Word Work

**Edit 8/2/12: The activities described in this post are now available for a FREE DOWNLOAD on my brand new Teachers Pay Teachers Store!

Awhile back I did a post about how I run Daily 3 (modified Daily 5) in my classroom, including how I manage my materials.  Since I showed my Word Work choice board, I've received some questions about what exactly my students do for their independent Word Work.  Well, fasten your seat belts, it's Word Work time!!

When I first started learning about the Daily 5 a few years ago, I struggled with the word work piece.  The examples that The Sisters outline in the book are really better suited to primary students.  Also, they are predominantly based on spelling practice.  When I became unhappy with those choices, I reverted to having my students do vocabulary context sentences for their word work.  Not only were these sentences torture for the students to do, they were also torture for me to grade!  BORING.  Also, they totally neglected the choice element that is so much a hallmark of the Daily 5.  Midway through last year, I decided that there must be something better out there.  I scoured the internet and my own brain and came up with several short, meaningful vocabulary practice activities and graphic organizers.  Some are my original work and others are adaptations of vocabulary practice activities I came across at one time or another!


First, the set-up:
Materials management is an important part of any smoothly functioning classroom, and is an especially important part of a Daily 5 classroom.  The kiddos need to be able to access any materials they may need during a rotation without interrupting my guided groups.  I have all of the choices displayed on one of my cabinets:
Below, all handouts and instruction cards are stored in a bin of hanging files:
Here's a closer look inside the file bin:
At the very front is a folder with the Weekly Word List.  Even though the words are displayed, I provide copies of the words and their definitions so there is no confusion.
Also mounted on the cabinets are two pocket charts with the weekly words:
The blue pocket chart has the 8 weekly words from our literacy story.  The red pocket chart has our science/social studies words as well as a couple of "real-life" words.  (The literacy words are the focus for the Word Work activities.)

Next, the activities:
Inside the hanging file bin are neatly labeled folders, one for each activity.  Inside each folder are two laminated copies of the instructions for that activity, as well as the handouts to go along with it.  Students can go up to the bin and grab the instructions and handout they need to work independently.  Here are the activities I use...
Connect To:
For this activity, students attempt to make as many connections as they can between the vocabulary words, with the end goal being to link them all in a chain.  For example, if three words were "rigid," "tyrant," and "physical," the students might connect them by saying, "Rigid is connected to tyrant because a tyrant has very rigid rules.  Tyrant is connected to physical because a tyrant might order physical pain to be inflicted on someone who broke the rules."  This one takes a little creativity!

Vocabulary Story:
In this folder, I keep the instructions as well as colored "stationery" (aka lined paper with a pretty boarder I make in Word and copy onto pretty colored paper).  Every Thursday, I assign a writing prompt relating to the weekly literacy story and require students to use their vocabulary words in their written response.  This is pretty much the same thing, except I let students write about any topic they want.  Their only requirement is to use at least 5 of the words in their writing.  This is a popular one among my avid writers!

Vocabulary Sort:
This one is a little bit of a higher-level activity.  (These activities lend themselves well to mixed-ability classes, because students pick their own activities.  No matter the challenge-level, they all accomplish the goal of practicing the words!)  Students analyze the words and come up with 3 categories.  They might have to do with part of speech, definition, word structure, etc.  They sort the words and then explain the category and why it works in the bottom of each column.

Four Square:
This is by far the most popular activity.  Students choose four words to work with.  For each word, they write a detailed sentence and illustrate.  The sentence and illustration really need to show the meaning of the word.  I love seeing the pictures and sentences they come up with!

Own the Word:
Probably the most basic activity, the kids just fill out this graphic organizer about the word.  They usually use the dictionary and thesaurus to find the part of speech and synonyms/antonyms.  It's not complicated, but it gets them thinking about the words and offers an opportunity to practice using reference materials.
Word Detective:
This one is pretty basic too.  The kids find the vocabulary word in their literacy text book and write down the sentence that uses the word.  They then fill out the graphic organizer looking at the context clues, and write their own sentences using context clues to show the word's meaning.

Assessment & Grading:
cloze, usually a story related to the weekly theme.  We grade these as a class immediately.  This is a win-win I think.  It's less grading for me, and it's a better assessment.  The weekly work is the formative, ungraded assessment, and the quick quiz is the summative.  It's been working really well!

Word Work Outside the Literacy Block:
I implemented a "Word Watcher" program towards the end of last year, and it was really popular with my students!  
Anytime they saw or heard a vocabulary word (past words and content area words count too!), they were able to fill out a Word Watcher slip and put it in the bucket.  I would pull a slip or two a week to raffle off a homework pass.  This year I may also add some component where, when I hear kids USING a vocab word, they can also enter their name in the raffle.

PHEW!  I think that sums it up!  Be sure to visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store to download these materials (for free!) and check them out for yourself!  If you have any questions email me at juiceboxesandcrayolas AT gmail DOT com.  If you have any other ideas for independent vocabulary practice that you use with your kiddos, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to hear them!!!!  Please share them in the comments section!  My system is by no means perfect, and I would love new ideas!

46 comments:

  1. I love this. It's super organized and there are so many options for your students. I HATE grading work from the stations also!

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  2. You are so organized. Love it! Love the new header too.

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  3. you are so incredibly organized! love it!

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  4. I'm entering my last year of my Master's in Teaching and am on track to student teach in a fifth grade classroom. Your level of organization is inspiring for sure. I learned a ton from this post! Thanks for sharing.

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  5. Those are great ideas-I've been wondering WHAT I was going to do for independent word work-now I know. I'm gonna email you for the zip file. Thanks!:)

    Shannon
    http://6thgradescottforesmanreadingstreetresources.wordpress.com/

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  6. Thank you thank you thank you! I start teaching in TWO days and was at a loss for how to do word work in 5th grade. Emailing you now!

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  7. Love it!!! I am eagerly awaiting your email so that I can get these guys printed off and copied for science vocabulary next week!

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  8. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Just in time for me to get things together for next week when we begin vocabulary lessons! :-)

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  9. These activities are great--clear and easily understood. The activities themselves are a way to make the students more independent--very little teacher direction needed! Thank you! I sent you an email :o)

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  10. This is AMAZING!!! I emailed you about getting the zip file and I am super excited to incorporate some of you ideas into my classroom as well. Thanks so much.
    Beth
    Thinking of Teaching

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  11. I love all of the graphic organizers that go with the kids work!

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  12. My school is encouraging us to look at Daily 5 this year. I am excited about it, but this was the one component I was at a loss for. I'm about to email you for the zip file. Thanks so much!!!

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  13. I just ordered the "Daily 5" and am looking into ordering the CAFE book also by the sisters. Just wondering, have you looked at that or do you do anything like that in your room? Thanks for all the great ideas - love your blog :)

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  14. You are amazing! I love your ideas!!! I used D5 with my kiddos last year and loved it. However, I felt that WW was our weakest link. I would love it if you could e-mail me your zip file at rjyoung23@gmail.com. I am trying to revamp our program for the coming year and would love to integrate some of your ideas. Thanks so much for sharing!!!!

    ♥Rebecca
    Create●Teach●Share
    Create●Share●Inspire

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  15. You've got some fabulous ideas! Thanks for sharing... I'm off to email you, too!

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  16. I love the idea of adding on the science/social studies words to the weekly word lists, and offering free hw passes for when the students find their words they have studied some place other than in words they have to study lol! Thanks for the great ideas, and for sharing.

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  17. Thank you for sharing all of your wonderful ideas. I will be implementing the Daily 5 this year in my 5th grade classroom and needed some help with Word Work. I've already emailed you for the zip file. Can't wait to get started! Thanks again!!

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  18. Loooove this post! Truly inspiring- I emailed you as well asking for the zip file :)

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  20. Thank you for sharing these wonderful ideas! I have started Daily 5 this year and have also been a little puzzled about the Word Work piece. Your process is so organized and the activities are very worthwhile...I would love to take a closer look at your materials. I will e-mail you for the .zip file....Thank you again!!

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  21. This is great! I just started Daily 5 this year, and did not do as much as I wanted with Word Work. I will email you for the zip file. Thank you so much for sharing!

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  22. You are amazing! I am starting the Daily 5 because I LOVE it... but feel very overwhelmed with the "starting-up" of it!

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  23. Great blog! I would love your zip file. I emailed you, but I thought I'd drop a note here as well in case you check this first. We start school on Wednesday, I'd love to get some of the materials together before we get rolling for the year:-) My email address is keela.lupton@gmail.com

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  24. I love you word watcher idea! I am going to implement it this year. What does your poster say?

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  25. I am trying to set up my classroom with The Daily 3 and Cafe. Could you email me a little about what you have up? bgordon8895@ucumberlands.edu Thanks, Beth

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  26. As a fellow 5th grade teacher thank you for this! I am just starting D5 this year, I also felt like all the word work activities I found were spelling. 5th graders have so much vocab that we can't leave it out of D5. I will be using this thanks!

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  27. As a fellow 5th grade teacher thank you for this! I am just starting D5 this year, I also felt like all the word work activities I found were spelling. 5th graders have so much vocab that we can't leave it out of D5. I will be using this thanks!

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  28. As a fellow 5th grade teacher thank you for this! I am just starting D5 this year, I also felt like all the word work activities I found were spelling. 5th graders have so much vocab that we can't leave it out of D5. I will be using this thanks!

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  29. Thank you for the great ideas! I am new to Daily 5 this year with my 4th graders and have been searching for more Word Work activities! Much to my surprise, my students LOVE their Word Work time. Your ideas will help me keep it fresh.

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  30. Thank you for sharing this! I teach 3rd grade, but I will definitely be implementing some of your ideas. Centers always seem so much more complicated than they really are...!

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  31. Thanks for sharing so many of your great ideas. Although I teach third, these activities will allow me to differentiate and challenge my higher students. Could you post your Work on Writing Story Starters that you refer to in one of your activities for Word Work?

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  32. I love your Word Work ideas and downloaded all of the activities. None of the boxes or graphics print on Own the Word, Word Detective, or Connect To. Any suggestions? I've tried to format the boxes and give the lines specific widths, but still can't get them to print!

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  33. Thank you for providing these documents, I just started following you on TPT. I appreciate that it's a Word doc, because I was able to add my own options too. I featured your pin in my latest blog post about word work organization. You can read it here:
    http://thepinspiredteacher.blogspot.com/2013/05/im-pinspired-word-work-organization-for.html

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  34. These are terrific! Found through The Pinspired Teacher blog. Thanks for providing them free in Word.

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  35. I love your honesty about grading. Great attention to detail. Thanks for freebee.

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  36. I LOVE these ideas! I teach 4th grade and I agree with you that something more is needed for upper elementary.Thank you so much for sharing these excellent ideas!!

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  37. This is good stuff. I love it! Thanks

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  38. Thank you so much for sharing! Such wonderful ideas! I would be so grateful if you could e-mail me the zip file for the vocabulary stations that I could use in daily 5. My email is jmunz@oes141.org. Thanks in advance!

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    1. Hi Jaleese! Here is an updated link to TpT: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Juice-Boxes-Crayolas-Word-Work-Activity-Pack-293783

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  39. I looked for these files on your teachers pay teachers site and did not find them. Please email the Word Work instructions and forms so that I may implement this in my sixth grade ELA classes. Thank you so much!
    kimhodges85@comcast.net

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    1. Hi Kimberly! Here is an updated link: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Juice-Boxes-Crayolas-Word-Work-Activity-Pack-293783

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  40. I was very sad to go to TPT and not find this. It is wonderful.

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    1. Hi Christina! Here is an updated link!! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Juice-Boxes-Crayolas-Word-Work-Activity-Pack-293783

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  41. Hello,

    I was wondering if you could give a little more information about the cloze assessment activity you do. I would love to hear more about it.

    Also, do you require your students to do each vocabulary activity weekly?

    Thanks!

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    1. Hi Victoria!

      No, I just had the kids choose 2 activities per week. And for the cloze, I simply wrote a short passage (relating to the stories/topics we read during the week) and included the vocab words. Then I deleted the words and inserted "blanks." I gave the kids the passage and a word bank. I often read them aloud so that I was testing the vocab recall, not reading ability.

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