SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Grade 04 Unit 05: Word Study

Revised: 6/12/2014
SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Grade 04 Unit 05: Word Study
Reading Standards: Foundational Skills
RF.4.3: Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
RF.4.3.a: Use combined knowledge of all letter-sound correspondences, syllabication patterns, and morphology (e.g., roots and
affixes) to read accurately unfamiliar multisyllabic words in context and out of context.
Reading Foundational Skills-Word Study
These units focus on the Reading Standards: Foundational Skills (3 – 5) found in our Common Core Learning Standards. These units are
intended to build students’ phonics and word recognition skills so that students will know and apply grade-level phonics and word
analysis skills in both reading and writing.
Lessons outlined in these units should be delivered during the 20 minute phonics/word study time. The foundational skills do NOT
replace vocabulary instruction within the whole group comprehension lesson. The word lists suggest words to be used during the
weekly word study time. You are encouraged to build upon the given word list. Students need to interact with these words daily in a
variety of ways. Suggestions are given within the units.
Research shows that rote memorization of chosen words does not encourage mastery of specific spelling patterns. Learning and
interacting with spelling patterns and syllable types enables students to read and write multisyllabic words based on these patterns. The
following units encourage daily interaction with specific spelling patterns (rather than just specific words) in order to obtain mastery of
those patterns.
In order to determine mastery of the weekly skill, students will be tested on a specific word list at the end of each week. This specific
word list should not be given directly to students prior to test administration at the end of the week.
Fourth Grade Foundational/Word Study Units
Weekly Routine:
 Day 1 - Introduce Words/Explicit Instruction
 Day 2 - Word Sorts/Guided Practice/Partner Activity
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Day 3 - Deeper Process/Word Meanings/Independent Practice/Do It Now
Day 4 - Review/Small group instruction
Day 5 – Assessment
Additional resources that can be used in all units include:
 Spiral Up phonics sets (available in many schools),
 Treasures: Phonics/Spelling Practice Book , Phonics Intervention Teacher’s Edition, Differentiated Spelling list under additional
resources (T14),
 Words Their Way books (by Francine Johnston, Donald Bear, and Marcia Invernizzi) pages 375-404 – Sorts by spelling stage and
pattern
 Fry’s High Frequency Words Activities
Homework: Below are some homework activity links. These are suggestions of activities that can be used for homework. Please be sure
to choose weekly or daily activities to send home with students for additional practice.
Spelling Homework Activities
Tic Tac Toe Spelling Activities
Spelling Activities
Fry Sight Word list for 4th grade
Quizlet – online cards and activities with 4th 100 words
Plural nouns
Unit 05 Test Prep
Review academic vocabulary as needed by your students.
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