Overview

  • Year Levels F–8
  • Curriculum ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA
  • Subject Literacy
  • Resource Formats Print, Digital
  • Learning Focus Word study, spelling and grammar
  • Last Updated Apr 2020

What it is

Words Their Way is a developmentally-driven, teacher-directed, student-centred approach to vocabulary growth and spelling development. It enables you to:

  • assess, identify and document each student's spelling stage
  • group students with common needs
  • tailor activities to improve students’ spelling knowledge
  • engage in sound, pattern and meaning activities and word sorts so students gain a better understanding of the principles of spelling.

How it helps

Learners

Use fun activities to engage: Integrate games and activities into the word study program to make learning spelling and vocabulary fun for students.

Tailored to the individual: Caters to differentiated learning in the classroom, rather than a one-size-fits-all solution as it’s based on each student’s spelling knowledge.

Understand the principles of spelling: Engaging sound, pattern and meaning activities to help learners construct and apply their own knowledge of spelling. 

Educators

Detailed resources to support differentiation: Fill spelling knowledge gaps and tailor activities to students with reproducible sorts and word-sorting activities created for Australian classrooms.

Understand where your students are at: Use spelling inventories to assess students and then reassess after explicit teaching and learning to gauge progress.

Simplified lesson planning: Step-by-step teaching notes include generalisations for each lesson highlighting what students will learn, guidance for English language learners, tips for sorting and discussion, critical thinking questions and opportunities to extend and apply learning.

“Words Their Way is a fabulous resource for supporting curriculum differentiation. By using the placement tests, my staff have been able to provide every student with content that is pitched at the appropriate level.”
- Stephen Green, Principal at Upper Swan Primary School in Western Australia

What it includes

Discover how the Words Their Way hands-on approach improves teaching outcomes.

Components

Overview

Words Their Way is a complete curriculum of word study for the Emergent, Letter Name-Alphabetic, Within Word Pattern, Syllables and Affixes, and Derivational Relations stages of spelling development.

To suit the needs of your classroom, Words Their Way resources can be purchased as:

  • individual books
  • individual eBooks
  • a whole school resource pack, ideal for schools looking for a whole school program with eBook access for all teachers on the school network
  • a classroom-ready print pack, ideal for schools needing print only resources. It is most suitable for schools looking to use the resource across one or two year levels.

At minimum, a year level would require at least one copy of each book.

Components

Word Study for Phonics, Vocabulary and Spelling Instruction, Global 7th Edition

Words Their Way Word Study For Phonics Resource

Now in its 7th edition, this core teaching resource features:

  • spelling inventories for assessing students and tracking their progress
  • word sorts and word study games using analysis, reflection and discussion to foster critical thinking
  • a new chapter on organising word study in the classroom, as well as new activities, progress monitoring materials and sample lesson plans.

It also includes a free 12-month subscription to Words Their Way Digital.

Components

Words Their Way Digital

Words Their Way Digital replaced the Words Their Way PD Toolkit in January 2023.

Words Their Way: Word Study for Phonics, Vocabulary and Spelling Instruction, Global Edition, 7th Edition, includes a complimentary 12-month subscription to Words Their Way Digital.

Together with the main teacher resource book, Words Their Way: Word Study for Phonics, Vocabulary and Spelling Instruction, Global Edition, 7th Edition, Words Their Way Digital contains digital learning materials including:

  • the ability to input students’ inventory results
  • the ability to group students into their spelling stages
  • interactive word sorts
  • games.

Find instructions for purchase and access to the Words Their Way Digital subscription in the support section below.

Components

Letter and Picture Sorts for Emergent Spellers, Global 3rd Edition

Words Their Way Letter And Picture Sorts Resource

This resource includes 60 reproducible sorts and dozens of other activities and assessments to teach:

  • phonological awareness
  • alphabet knowledge
  • initial letter sounds
  • concepts about print
  • concept of word in text.

Also included in this latest edition are:

  • enhanced step-by-step directions for each sort
  • additional assessments
  • expanded syllable, rhyme and font sorts
  • reorganised word study chapters.

Components

Word Sorts for Letter Name-Alphabetic Spellers, Global 3rd Edition

Word Sorts for Letter Name-Alphabetic Spellers, Global 3rd Edition

This resource covers the complete curriculum of word study for the letter name-alphabetic stage of spelling development. It includes:

  • over 80 reproducible sorts, including sorts and activities for:
    • beginning consonant, same-vowel and mixed vowel word families
    • diagraph and blends
    • short vowels in CVC words
    • preconsonantal nasals
    • r-influenced vowels and contractions.
  • teaching tips, standard routines and spell checks for each unit.
  • step-by-step directions, including:
    • generalisations for each lesson highlighting what students will learn
    • tips for sorting and discussion
    • critical thinking questions
    • opportunities to extend and apply learning.
  • unit assessments for monitoring student progress.

Components

Word Sorts for Within Word Pattern Spellers, Global 3rd Edition

Word Sorts for Within Word Pattern Spellers, Global 3rd Edition

This resource covers the complete curriculum of word study for the within word pattern stage of spelling development. It includes:

  • 75 reproducible sorts, including sorts for:
    • short and long vowels
    • common and uncommon long-vowel patterns in CVC and CVCe words
    • r-influenced vowels
    • diphthongs
    • ambiguous vowels
    • complex consonants
    • homophones and more.
  • teaching tips, standard routines and spell checks for each unit.
  • step-by-step directions, including:
    • generalisations for each lesson highlighting what students will learn
    • tips for sorting and discussion
    • critical thinking questions
    • opportunities to extend and apply learning.
  • unit assessments for monitoring student progress.

Components

Word Sorts for Syllables and Affixes Spellers, 3rd Global Edition

Word Sorts for Syllables and Affixes Spellers, 3rd Global Edition

This resource covers the complete syllables and affixes spelling development stage of the word study curriculum. It contains:

  • over 60 reproducible sorts, including sorts for:
    • inflecting endings
    • compound words
    • accented and unaccented syllables
    • affixes.
  • teaching tips, standard routines, and spell checks for each unit.
  • step-by-step directions, including:
    • generalisations for each lesson highlighting what students will learn
    • tips for sorting and discussion
    • critical thinking questions
    • opportunities to extend and apply learning.
  • unit assessments for monitoring student progress.

Components

Words Sorts for Derivational Relations Spellers, Global 3rd Edition

Words Sorts for Derivational Relations Spellers, Global 3rd Edition

A complete curriculum of word study for advanced readers in the derivational relations stage of spelling development. It contains:

  • over 60 reproducible sorts, including sorts for:
    • affixes
    • spelling-meaning patterns
    • Latin and Greek words.
  • teaching tips, standard routines, and spell checks for each unit.
  • step-by-step directions, including:
    • generalisations for each lesson highlighting what students will learn
    • tips for sorting and discussion
    • critical thinking questions
    • opportunities to extend and apply learning.
  • English learner notes at the beginning of each unit to provide guidance to teachers, including information on cognates and other related words.
  • unit assessments for monitoring student progress.

Professional development

High Impact Word Study Workshop

High Impact Word Study Workshop - Words Their Way Professional Development

Learn how to effectively use Words Their Way to assess and identify the spelling stages of your students with Pearson's High Impact Word Study workshop. The workshop teaches you how to:

  • tailor spelling activities to support students in their spelling development
  • create a positive approach to the teaching and learning of spelling.

Support for Words Their Way Digital

Explore instructions to purchase and get access to the Words Their Way Digital subscription.

Words Their Way Digital replaced the Words Their Way PD Toolkit in January 2023.

Words Their Way: Word Study for Phonics, Vocabulary and Spelling Instruction, Global Edition, 7th Edition, includes a complimentary 12-month subscription to Words Their Way Digital.

Together with the main teacher resource book, Words Their Way: Word Study for Phonics, Vocabulary and Spelling Instruction, Global Edition, 7th Edition, Words Their Way Digital contains digital learning materials including:

  • the ability to input students’ inventory results
  • the ability to group students into their spelling stages
  • interactive word sorts
  • games.

To access Words Their Way Digital, visit wtwdigital.pearson.com and login with your existing PD Toolkit user name and password. You don’t need to create a new user name or password.

If you have any issues with your password, select ‘Forgot password’ to reset it.

Image of the Words Their Way Digital home page with an arrow pointing to Returning User at the top

Please note: free access to Words Their Way Digital is only provided with Words Their Way: Word Study for Phonics, Vocabulary and Spelling Instruction, Global Edition, 7th Edition and not the Words Their Way Word Sort titles.

To access Words Their Way Digital:

  1. Go to wtwdigital.pearson.com and select TEACHER.
  2. Select ‘Yes, I have an access code’.
  3. Accept the License Agreement.
  4. For ‘Do you have a Pearson Education account?’, select ‘Yes’ and enter your login name and password. If you don’t have one, select ‘No’ and create a login and password. We recommend using a generic school email address rather than your own email address, unless your school is happy for you to register.
  5. Enter the access code found on the inside front cover of Words Their Way: Word Study for Phonics, Vocabulary and Spelling Instruction, Global Edition, 7th Edition.
  6. Go to wtwdigital.pearson.com and login.
  7. If your access code does not work, please contact help@pearson.com.au

Image of the Words Their Way Digital home page with an arrow pointing to TEACHER on the right side of the page

If your 12-month subscription has expired or if you wish to purchase a subscription:

  1. Go to wtwdigital.pearson.com and select TEACHER.
  2. For ‘Do you have an access code?’ select ‘No, I need to buy instant access’.
  3. Accept the License Agreement.
  4. For ‘Do you have a Pearson Education account?’, select ‘Yes’ and enter your login name and password. If you don’t have one, select ‘No’ and create a login and password. We recommend using a generic school email address rather than your own email address, unless your school is happy for you to register.
  5. Complete the personal information and security question.
  6. Complete the billing information.
  7. Complete payment with credit card or PayPal. Note payment is in United States Dollars.
  8. Go to wtwdigital.pearson.com and login.

Image of the Words Their Way Digital home page with an arrow pointing to TEACHER on the right hand side

Samples & downloads

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