Word Sorts
Sorting words is a strategy used to reinforce skills, concepts or vocabulary by relating characteristics. Students recognize common relationships between sounds, word patterns, or vocabulary. Word Sorts in the classroom allow students to think critically and make connections.
Vacca and Vacca (1996) describe two forms of Word Sorts:
Word Sorts can be done in two ways:
• Closed Word Sort–The teacher provides the categories (and the specific features of each) to the students. The students then match the words with the features to create the word collections.
• Open Word Sort–The teacher provides only the list of words. Students work together to discern the common features and to describe the categories for collecting the word groups.
Word Sorts can be made and used with any subject at any grade level. The word sorts I've included are designed to be used with decoding skills and early literacy concepts. As you develop your own word sorts, share them with us. I'll include them on the website.
Sorts letters vs. numbers
Sorts short vowels CVC
Sorts 'oo'
Sorts -k or -ck
Sorts -ing
Sorts -ng
Sorts -nk
Sorts Silent 'e'
Sorts Long 'ā'
Sorts Long 'ī'
Sorts Long 'ō'
Sorts Long 'ū'
Sorts Long 'ē'
Sorts 'ea'
Sorts -ch or –tch
Sorts 'ow'
Sorts 'ed'
Sorts 'r' vowels
Sorts 'ar'
Sorts 'or'
Sorts 'oy' or 'oi'
Sorts -ge or -dge
Sorts 'c' or 'k'
Sorts hard 'c' soft 'c'
Sorts hard 'g' soft 'g'
Sorts Plurals -s -es ies
Sorts v'cv or vc'v
Sorts Compound or Non-compound
Sorts Synonyms or Antonyms
Sorts Common Prefixes
Sorts -able or –ible
Sorts Noun, verb, adjective, adverb
Sorts 4x4 Template
