READING and WRITING OPTIONS 

Writing Options: Word Work

Pocket Chart Names or Words

Objective:

Students use letters cards to build [spell] classmate names. 

Students use letters cards to build [spell] high frequency words (sight words, popcorn words, star words).  

Materials:

Pocket Chart

Pointers

When to Introduce:

This activity is introduced within the first month or two of school.  

This activity is introduced as soon as we have added 10 or more sight words to our word wall.  

How to Introduce:

To introduce word/name building [spelling] to the children, I model . . .

• how to select a word/name card
• how to identify the classmate on the word/name card
• how to read the word/name card and identify the letters in the name
• how to locate the letters cards needed from the letter drawers
• how to build the word/name
• how to use a pointer to chant the word/name - "C. H. R. I. S. Chris. Chris. Chris."

Differentiating:

Have students write the list of words/names they've spelled.

Have students write a sentence for some of the classmate words/names they've spelled.

Have students alphabetize the classmate words/names they've spelled.

Storage Ideas:

LARGE letter cards are stored in two yellow hardware drawer containers. 

SMALL letter cards are stored in two gray hardware drawer containers.

I purchased the yellow hardware drawer containers from Wal-Mart (2003). 

I purchased the gray hardware drawer containers from ACE Hardware (2003). 

The drawers are labeled with a letter of the alphabet to help students easily identify/find letter drawers/cards. 

The letter card storage drawers are stored on a shelf that is next to the pocket chart.