This book provides teachers with concept sorting ideas followed by picture sorts for developing phonemic awareness, alphabet knowledge, letter recognition and concept of words in print. This companion volume augments that content with numerous reproducible sorts that specifically address the needs of the syllables and affixes speller. Accompanying the sorts are step-by-step directions for guiding pupils through the sorting lessons, as well as follow-up activities and tips for using the sorts to their best advantage.

We believe that the hands-on word sorting approach to word study is invaluable to you and your students. Broaden your word study understanding and instruction with this expanded word sorting tool for week by week implementation with emergent spellers (ages 1 - 7).

This stage-specific companion volume to Words Their Way: Word Study for Phonics, Vocabulary, and Spelling Instruction provides a complete curriculum of assessments, reproducible sorts, and detailed directions for the teacher working with students in the emergent stage of spelling.

New! This second edition boasts

- Targeted Learners sections that clarify which students will benefit most from the instruction

- An early bank of assessments to help you evaluate your students and pinpoint the most appropriate instruction

- Literature Connections to reinforce concepts being studied

This first volume introduces the idea of sorting through concept sort for students in the emergent stage of spelling development (Pre-K through Grade 1). The word study lesson plan format of demonstrate, sort, check, and reflect is expanded in this stage to include reading aloud and writing activities.

The early concept sorting activities are followed with picture sorts that develop phonemic awareness and include activities for rhyming, syllabication, and sound play. Alphabet knowledge and letter recognition are then covered, along with sorts that look at concept of word in print, as well as poems, jingles and short text selections that can be shared with children. Students are then ushered into sorts that introduce beginning consonants with pictures, laying the foundation for the letter-name stage.

Designed for elementary educators' use as part of a reading curriculum where emergent spelling is covered.

Donald is director of the E. L. Cord Foundation Center for Learning and Literacy where he and preservice, Master’s and doctoral students teach and assess children who struggle to learn to read and write. Donald is a professor in the Department of Educational Specialties in the College of Education at the University of Nevada, Reno. Donald has been a classroom teacher and he researches and writes about literacy development and instruction. He is an author of numerous articles, book chapters, and books, including Words Their Way, Words Their Way with English Learners, and Vocabulary Their Way.