Word Sorts
English Language Arts Standards
Strand: Language
Topic: Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
Standard Statement: L.5.4: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 5 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
a. Use context (e.g., cause/effect relationships and comparisons in text) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase
Section of Text
I would use this strategy for the entire chapter beginning on page 8 and ending on page 17
Rationale
I chose this strategy because it helps students activate their prior knowledge in order to sort key words and phrases from the chapter. The students can use what they already know about words to sort them or make inferences based on root words in order to sort them. I think it is a good pre-reading strategy to get their minds activated and ready to start the chapter. Also, through a word sort, I can get an idea of what the students already know about the topic and introduce vocabulary to them.
What I Want to Accomplish
With a word sort, the students should learn how certain words fit together and what they all mean. I would want them to be able to understand how to make connections between words based on their prior knowledge and root words they see. I would refer to the word sort throughout the chapter then go over the entire thing at the end and see what students have learned during this chapter.
Steps of the Strategy
Choose key words and phrases from the text
Materials
Paper and Pencil, List of Words from the Chapter
Teacher Example
Strand: Language
Topic: Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
Standard Statement: L.5.4: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 5 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
a. Use context (e.g., cause/effect relationships and comparisons in text) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase
Section of Text
I would use this strategy for the entire chapter beginning on page 8 and ending on page 17
Rationale
I chose this strategy because it helps students activate their prior knowledge in order to sort key words and phrases from the chapter. The students can use what they already know about words to sort them or make inferences based on root words in order to sort them. I think it is a good pre-reading strategy to get their minds activated and ready to start the chapter. Also, through a word sort, I can get an idea of what the students already know about the topic and introduce vocabulary to them.
What I Want to Accomplish
With a word sort, the students should learn how certain words fit together and what they all mean. I would want them to be able to understand how to make connections between words based on their prior knowledge and root words they see. I would refer to the word sort throughout the chapter then go over the entire thing at the end and see what students have learned during this chapter.
Steps of the Strategy
Choose key words and phrases from the text
- Write them in a random order
- Give students categories that words can be placed in to (optional)
- Have students sort words into groups based on similarities
- Discuss why students put words in the categories they did
Materials
Paper and Pencil, List of Words from the Chapter
Teacher Example
Student Example