LANGUAGE/S.S.: Word Study ("Skyscrapers")

Children learn best by moving and manipulating materials with their hands. This is why students often love science (experiments) and math (manipulatives), but what about Language?! Can reading and writing also be hands-on? Yes!

Worksheets and textbooks do not excite, especially if you are a child who struggles and doesn’t want to make mistakes. I am a BIG fan of our drawers of language lessons we call “Skyscrapers” that sit prominently on our shelves. In each of these drawers are a set of cards that the kids see as puzzles to be moved around until the answers are found. When they think they’ve got it, they get checked by an adult and then approved for recording. The children then write what they see into their journals. knowing everything is correct. While they carefully transcribe, they subconsciously practice correct spelling and add another level of learning via written practice to the work. They show pride in what they have accomplished. Ask your child what they are currently working on in Skyscrapers!

Here’s a list of topics your child is or will be covering this semester:

Alphabetizing, Classification, Synonyms, Antonyms, Homographs, Homonyms, Prefixes, Suffixes, Singular/Plurals/Possessives, and Contractions