Teaching Word Families

Teaching word families is a wonderful way to help students recognize patterns in the written language while simultaneously becoming better readers!   In our room we focused on different spelling patterns each week.  But of course when it comes to remembering those patterns and being proficient in reading them, every student develops differently!  How do we keep students accountable for mastering word families yet allow for differentiation of development?  The results of their mastery is more fluent and accurate reading.   That is what we all want for our students!

Short Vowel Word Families

A great place to start is short vowels!  Students can begin to recognize the patterns in the word lists while they begin reading short simple fluency phrases with those words.  Another thing that I love about these books, is how they keep the learning fresh.  They provide that anchor and personal connection to each pattern.  Students have their very own lists to keep.   IMG_1747

How Does It Work

Just like we track sight word mastery for our students, we can now track word family mastery!  Students work their way through these short vowel booklets in order to master reading both word lists and fluency phrases for each short vowel word family.   Once students read down a word list and the fluency phrases on the back the teacher can write a positive comment and/or date the box.  The student gets to place a sticker, stamp, or color dot on the front cover over the mastered word family.  As students work through the book they move on to the next!

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The first side is the word list, the back side is the fluency phrases with those same words.

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In our classrooms these books stayed in student book boxes and take home bags.  Students took their booklets home to practice with a parent each night and one day a week/or more if possible, I would listen and test students.  When parents volunteer to help with reading, students would always beg to be chosen and ask to level up!

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Long Vowel Word Families

After students master the short vowel word families, it is time to take it up a notch!  Long vowel word families can be a real reading booster!  Reading takes off once students learn that they can flip the vowel sound to long or short to decode an unfamiliar word!  This makes learning more difficult patterns much easier and less stressful for both teacher and student.  Students can focus on one list at a time and master it at their own pace.  Teacher can be sure that each student is getting what they need when they need it based on how they are mastering these booklets.  It’s the perfect way to track reading mastery data.

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RTI Intervention and Editable

These books can help you with RTI tracking or intervention activities for the students in your class that you are required to track more closely.  Slide these books in a data binder or use them with student led learning.  They are very motivating and provide excellent goal setting criteria!  Each set includes and editable template so you can customize this for your students.

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If you missed it, you can also get editable sight word booklets for the first 1000 Fry’s sight words too! Read those posts here and here.

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The Booklets

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Short Vowels and Fluency Phrases

Long Vowels and Fluency Phrases

Sight Words and Fluency Phrases Words 1-500

Sight Words and Fluency Phrases Words 600-1000

Blends, Bossy R, Vowel Teams and Fluency Phrases

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Get all three word families sets in one bundle!
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Get all the sight word booklets in one bundle! 

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17 Comments

  1. Hi Reagan,

    Thanks so much for these, I love them and just bought all the bundles. However, I’m not sure about how to put them together. My aide and the Grade 1 (who also bought them) have started cutting the pages in order to photocopy and assemble them in order. But is there an easier way?
    Thanks so much!

  2. Thank you for all your goodies! Your products are wonderful in helping us to support the learning of children!

  3. You have no idea how excited I am to see these. I own and use the high frequency sight word booklets and my students love them! I can wait to use the long and short vowel lists!

  4. What is your system for leveling up? Do you, as the teacher, sign off on a list when you feel they are fluent…..is there specific criteria? I really want my first graders to build fluency, so if I purchase these, I want to make sure I use them effectively.

    THANKS!!

  5. Where do I find you word family bundles? I have the sight words that I purchased, but I would love the other bundle also.

  6. I bought the sight word bundle booklets 1-5 a couple of years ago and at the same time I printed an alphabet mastery book that matches. I need another copy of the alphabet one for my youngest daughter but I can’t figure out where I got it from. It isn’t included in the bundle I purchased and I’m not seeing it in your TPT store. Do you have a link of where I can find it? Thanks!

  7. Hello
    Am have been so much interested in you’re materials but I am unable to get to you’re site. Kindly get a j touch with am a teacher in Kenya and love you’re materials.