Word Study Woes? A Solution and New Resource by Jan Richardson

The English language is hard, tricky, complicated. 

Letters can make multiple sounds and there are always exceptions to the rules. 

No wonder why spelling is such a struggle for our little learners. 

No wonder why teachers have often felt at a loss as to how to teach spelling effectively. 

I have tried it all. 

I have used whole class spelling lists during the days of the old reading basals. 

I've tried all different configurations of Words Their Way. 

Lists and lists of words.

Whole group, small group, individual. 

I still have not figured it out.  

Currently, my students have word study journals and work with words that follow grade level spelling patterns. 

Is this the best method? 

I can't say with confidence that it is. 

That's why I was so thrilled when Scholastic informed me that Jan Richardson had just published a new book focused on the teaching of word study and phonics and that they were sending me two copies...one to use and one to gift to a lucky blog reader. 

I am a huge fan of Jan and her work in the area of literacy and in particular guided reading. 

I have read and reread her book The Next Step Forward in Guided Reading. 

I channel my inner Jan each day as I meet with my small groups. 

I've seen the impact it has made in my reading instruction. 

So I'm super excited and ready to dig into the companion to this resource: 

The Next Step Forward in Word Study and Phonics
by Jan Richardson and Michele Dufresne!

Are you a Jan fan?

I'd love to send you a free copy of this brand new teacher resource book.
Just enter the giveaway by commenting on this blog or visit me on Instagram.
Then enter the contest using the Rafflecopter below.
I will send the lucky winner the book next week!
Then come back and visit my blog.
I will be trying out the ideas and strategies outlined in this book and
will be posting about it along the way!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Our Five Writing Responsibilities: Editing Rules

My kids absolutely love writing! 

We organized a spot in the room for our writing supplies and offices. 

We decorated our writing folders with photographs, pictures and words to inspire our writing. 

My kids are filling up pages.
Sometimes they write to a prompt that I give them.
Other times they get to choose their own writing topics.
Writing in their journals is always a wise choice if they are a fast finisher and complete assignments early.  So many of them WANT to write!
That makes my teacher heart so happy!





I loved that they were writing up a storm, but I wanted to be able to read and understand their writing. The whole purpose of putting pencil to paper, right?
Although I knew my kids got instruction in using capitals, punctuation, sight words, handwriting, and sentence writing in earlier grades, they weren't always using what they had learned.

I decided to spend one week reviewing their "Writing Responsibilities".
I took one responsibility a day.  I taught it explicitly using a visual slide show and then we practiced together using a practice page.  After we posted the responsibility.

After the week our poster was complete and kids had a chance to review each important writing skill with me. Now I feel like it is fair to hold student writers responsible for using complete sentences, capitals, punctuation, correct spelling and neat handwriting.

Now when we edit our drafts, kids know what to look for.


In case you are feeling the same writing struggle, I decided to share.
I have added this set to my TPT store.
You can check it out here:




My Five Writing Responsibilities Teaching Slide Show

Happy Teaching and Happy Writing!