Shelby Newell
Word Sorts
“My eSorts and Digital Extensions of Word Study”
Reference
Zucker, T. & Invernizzi, M. (2008). My esorts and digital extensions of word study. The Reading Teacher,
61(8), 654-658. DOI: 10.1598/RT 61.8.7.
Main Ideas
My eSorts is a program that is used for vocabulary and word sorts that teaches phonics and
spelling by using digital word study. The article goes into steps of how to use digital word study and why
it is effective.
Supporting Details
The authors believe eSorts could benefit two types of students: (1) students with a poor attitude
toward reading, and (2) students who had already been taught spelling patterns but were having trouble
mastering them. The article explains that eSorts may create a positive outlook towards literacy and
provide additional contexts for reading and spelling practice. My eSorts uses students own words and
stories while designing the word sorts. The teacher they performed the study with was a reading
specialist who met daily with three flexible groups and had a set routine each week (5 day process). She
assessed progress by 10-word spelling assessments that were used regularly and a 25-word “spelling
inventory” every 9 weeks to monitor spelling levels.
Day one was the student dictating a personal story and the tutor turned that story into a
multimedia power point. The second day the tutor looked at all the previous word sorts he student had
done and had the student explain the spelling patterns for each column. Next, the tutor would take the
students story and create a new word sort activity using Inspiration 8 from the story the student had
told. The third day, students took another look back at their story and tried to find more words that
have the same letters as the word sorts the day before that may be similar or different and
understanding why. The fourth day was spent mastering the spelling patterns and adding pictures, voice
recordings, and other personal touches to the student’s story to make it more interesting to them. On
the final day, the students got to share their creations with their peers and get feedback.
Reflection
The eSorts sound like a fantastic idea to use in a classroom! I love how the eSorts make word
sorts authentic by using students own stories and words. It takes something the student is familiar with
and turn it into a learning experience. Students also will get more involved in the projects because they
get to personalize the word sorts and make them their own. Students love to share their work with
their peers and get positive reinforcement.
I can see this working wonderfully in a classroom; however it is something that would seem to
be time consuming when not having a “tutor” or helper like was done here in the study. There would be
a lot of time spent on this project if each student was telling a story and the teacher types I out the
Shelby Newell
Word Sorts
dialogue and creates a power point with illustrations and other forms of media. I would like to converse
with someone who uses a similar tactic and learn how to use this most effectively before trying to
implement it in my own room.
The only other thing that could be potentially detrimental to this project is the amount of
technology it uses. Each student would need access to a computer in class, as well as a smart board to
give the presentations on. If computers weren’t available in the amount the class would need, this
could possibly be done by having their story typed out and then having the students draw their own
pictures or decorate it how they like. Hopefully the technology would be available; however there are
ways this can still be used to its fullest potential!