Word Study is not actually a study of words. It is recognizing patterns in words. You don’t actually spell them. Oh, and you don’t define them, either. You have a chart on a piece of paper and cut out the word and sort them in different ways. Yeah. That’s all. Just the sorting.
Apparently, someone decided that actually writing the words a few times and using them in sentences was unnecessary. That only taught them to spell and comprehend and use words. This Word Study teaches them to compare and contrast words as well as identifying patterns in words. You don’t actually have to spell them or use them. Just sort them.
So, now that I have found that my child cannot actually spell or use an apostrophe appropriately or even capitalize proper nouns, I have to find a tutor. A tutor who will teach him the basic principles of grammar and how to spell things like “cereal”. Did I mention he’s in tenth grade?
He has depended on spellcheck, providing good ideas, and content to make up for his deficiencies. I have been asking the school for help with this for 4 years. I’m taking matters into my own hands. As he is my child, he is stubborn and occasionally ornery and won’t listen to me. Thus, the tutor will take over.
Beware, parents. Word Study is out there. It is teaching your children to sort. If you want them to actually spell anything, you may have to stage an intervention.
I’ve never heard of Word Study before, and frankly, I’m thrilled. At their previous school, my girls all had to write the words several times each, put their word list in alphabetical order, and write a separate sentence for each word. Consequently, all 3 of my girls are excellent spellers, and I’m pretty sure none of them know how to use SpellCheck!
Sad, sad, sad. I have never heard of Word Study either. Obviously, it’s ineffective. Hello PTA???
Once upon a time, I was chairperson of the PTA. They have no influence upon curriculum. This is a district level decision and I think we are just beginning to see the effects, as they changed it when my youngest was in elementary school. Now this group is in high school and I wonder how many are in the same boat as my child.