Word Journeys, First Edition: Assessment-Guided Phonics, Spelling, and Vocabulary Instruction (Solving Problems in the Teaching of Literacy)

Word Journeys, First Edition: Assessment-Guided Phonics, Spelling, and Vocabulary Instruction (Solving Problems in the Teaching of Literacy)

Kathy Ganske, PhD
$40.00
Publication Date: April 25th, 2000
Publisher:
The Guilford Press
ISBN:
9781572305595
Pages:
340

Description

This book presents a highly practical approach to assessing children's spelling and word knowledge abilities and offering effective, appropriate instruction. Included is the Developmental Spelling Analysis (DSA), a dictated word inventory that enables teachers to quickly and easily evaluate students' stages of spelling development and their knowledge of important orthographic features. Detailed guidelines are set forth for engaging students in hands-on word study that is tailored to their specific strengths and weaknesses. Validated and field-tested, the instructional techniques described here reflect the author's many years of classroom experience. Particularly useful features of the book include narrative "snapshots" of children at different stages of spelling development; numerous examples of student work; suggested word sort activities for each orthographic feature; lists of recommended books and poems; and a focus on fostering a love of words through word play and language appreciation. Provided in the appendices are reproducible forms for administering the DSA, plus a list of over 12,000 words arranged by sound, pattern, and meaning-related features.

About the Author

Kathy Ganske, PhD, is Professor of the Practice of Literacy and Director of Graduate Elementary Education at Vanderbilt University. She has been involved in using, refining, and teaching about word study practices for over 25 years. Her work is grounded in extensive teaching experience in elementary classrooms. Dr. Ganske's current research interests include discussion during small-group word study instruction and literacy teacher preparation. She is the author or coauthor of several books, including Word Journeys, Word Sorts and More and Mindful of Words, as well as numerous articles and book chapters.

Praise for Word Journeys, First Edition: Assessment-Guided Phonics, Spelling, and Vocabulary Instruction (Solving Problems in the Teaching of Literacy)

"Word Journeys brings together phonics and spelling--a blessing for teachers who are trying to juggle a mismatched collection of lessons and objectives. The program is grounded in a thorough analysis of English orthography, and provides the teacher with professional guidance for deciding what is important and what is not. The assessment techniques are practical within the time limits of the regular classroom, and should also be helpful to reading specialists for diagnosis." --Robert Calfee, PhD, Professor and Dean, School of Education, University of California, Riverside

"Implementing a quality word study program is a major goal for our K-12 English program. Our school system has used Kathy Ganske's Developmental Spelling Analysis for many years. Now that the assessment, word lists, and activities are combined in one book, it will be much easier for teachers to use. Word Journeys is just what we have been looking for." --Sarah Scott, MA, Director of English Instruction, Rockingham School District, Harrisonburg, VA  "Word Journeys has opened a new world of information for me and for my preservice and inservice students. The integration of reading and spelling finally has fallen into place! Ganske's book is required reading in our reading methods courses and our master's-level reading clinic field experience. I have found that teachers' understanding of their students' needs has been greatly enhanced by the use of Ganske's Developmental Spelling Analysis and the associated word sorts and activities."--Geri Mohler, EdD, Graduate Literacy Program Coordinator, School of Education, California State University-Bakersfield  "Ganske has become my guide in moving from a traditional memorization approach to spelling instruction toward a more complete practice of teaching how words work. Word Journeys takes the serious literacy teacher on a tour of word patterns, features, and meanings within each of the stages children pass through as they become better spellers and users of the English language, and provides wonderful activities for use at each stage. I have had great success with this book!"--Linda Klausmeyer Thiel, second-grade teacher, Mead Elementary School, St. Vrain Valley School District, Colorado  

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