Activity Description

Preparation:

1. Select a variety of reading materials from familiar classroom texts
   1. Make copies as needed
2. Create a Search-A-Word chart in the classroom
   1. Write “Search-A-Word” at the top of a piece of chart paper
   2. Hang the chart in a visible place

Implementation:

1. Select a spelling pattern or word part and write it on chart paper
   1. For example: “_all”
2. Model word searching
   1. Use a familiar text model how to locate words following the selected spelling pattern
   2. For example: “I see the word ‘fall’, does this follow our spelling pattern?”
3. Have students engage in the search-a-word activity
   1. In small groups, have students select a text and look for words that follow the selected spelling pattern
   2. For example: “ball”, “wall”, “hall”, “call”.
4. Students then bring the words back to the whole class and they are added to the “Search-A-Word” chart
5. Once every small group has generated a list of words, read the list together as a class

Adaptations For

English Language Learners/ESL:

- Have students write down the words they find in a personal dictionary
- Visual cues can be provided to accompany written spelling patterns

Cultural Appropriateness & Diversity:

- Provide a variety of culturally diverse reading materials

Differentiated Instruction:

- Students could do this activity individually
- More complex spelling patterns can be given for students needing an additional challenge

Related References

Evidence:
Barger, J. (2006). Building word consciousness. The Reading Teacher, 60, 279-281.