Essential Strategies for Word Study Effective Methods for Improving Decoding, Spelling, and Vocabulary

by Rasinski, Timothy; Zutell, Jerry; Rasinski, Timothy V.

• ISBN13: 9780545103336
• ISBN10: 0545103339
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-09-01
• Publisher: Scholastic Teaching Resources (Theory and Practice)

Summary

Defining word study as the direct exploration and analysis of wordsthrough phonics, vocabulary, and spelling instructionthe authors maintain that it is most effective when sound, spelling, and meaning are examined simultaneously. To that end, they offer thirty engaging activities divided into three sections: exploring word structure, examining word meanings, and extending word learning. In this way, word study becomes a fascinating part of the overarching language arts curriculum. Students learn all about words, inside and out, as they sort and spell, harvest and map, define and design, investigate and analyze, decode and use wordsall toward the aim of becoming more effective and efficient readers and writers. For use with Grades 28.

Author Biography

Timothy Rasinski is a Professor of Education at Kent State University. His interests include phonics and reading instruction, teacher development in literacy education, and working with struggling readers. Dr. Rasinski is an editor for the Journal of Literacy Research, has served as president of the College of Reading Association, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the International Reading Association. He has written numerous books and articles on effective reading instruction, including The Fluent Reader.

Dr. Jerry Zutell, who is a Professor Emeritus and former Director of the Ohio State University Reading Clinic, studies children's acquisition of word knowledge in reading and writing. He is the developer of the Directed Thinking Spelling Activity (DTSA), an innovative, student-active cycle of word study instruction, and the Theme, Context, Roots, Reference, and Review (TC3R) model of vocabulary instruction. Additionally, Dr. Zutell is a principal consultant on Merriam Webster’s Primary Dictionary, one of the senior authors on the Zaner-Bloser spelling series, Spell It—Write!, the author of the Zaner-Bloser vocabulary series, Word Wisdom, and co-author of Instructing Students Who Have Literacy Problems, 6th Edition.