How do word sorts work?

Word sorts are activities in which students categorize words according to the words’ features. Sorting makes it easier to see the similarities and differences of words. Even before being able to read, students can begin sorting.

What is an open word sort?

Word Sorts are vocabulary strategies in which students categorize the new words. In a Closed Word Sort, the categories are provided; in an Open Word Sort, students sort the words into any categories that make sense to them, encouraging creativity and critical thinking.

How do you teach word sorts?

Introducing a Word Sort

  1. Copy and Cut Words Apart.
  2. Introduce the Patterns.
  3. Introduce Head Words or Familiar Words.
  4. Sort All the Words by their Visual Pattern.
  5. Focus on the Sounds of the Patterns.
  6. Introduce Vocabulary.
  7. Form Generalizations.
  8. Child Re-Sorts Independently.

What are word sorts in phonics?

What are Word Sorts? Word sorts require students to think about how words work by drawing their attention to common spelling patterns. Students are given a set of words that all have something in common and asked to sort them by the common feature.

Do word sorts help with comprehension?

How do Word Sorts help with Comprehension? Like stated earlier, using word sorts will help students learn and understand that words carry meaning or multiple meanings. There are so many different ways that you can sort words, which makes it very engaging and fun for students.

What are vocabulary sorts?

A concept sort is a vocabulary and comprehension strategy used to familiarize students with the vocabulary of a new topic or book. Teachers provide students with a list of terms or concepts from reading material. Students place words into different categories based on each word’s meaning.

What is a writing sort?

Writing sorts are different than the traditional copying of spelling words however because they require students to write words into categories. By writing their word list into categories, students attend to the sounds or patterns of letters and think about how those words connect with their key words or headers.

Are Word sorts phonemic awareness?

For example, students can sort pictures by beginning sound, rhyme, or ending sound. Students do not need to have strong phonics skills in order to engage in sound sorts. This can be a beginning phonemic awareness activity because students need only to identify the sound in order to complete the sort.

Who invented word sorts?

A word sort is a developmental word study activity espoused by the Words Their Way curriculum as written by Donald R. Bear, Marcia Invernizzi, Shane Templeton, and Francine Johnston. The activity focuses students’ attention on critical features of words, namely sound, pattern, and meaning.