Word Workers Series

The Word Workers activity books have been written specifically for students at the early to intermediate years of reading acquisition (suggested reading ages 7–11). The series is carefully structured to develop, in a sequential manner, basic reading skills. Word Workers takes students from the earliest skills of phonemic awareness to the higher order skill of syllabification and structural analysis. The Reading Freedom Diagnostic Handbook should be used to place students at the correct level in the program. In order to work successfully with the Word Workers activity book, teachers should refer to the Work Workers Teacher Resources Book and monitor student progress with the Word Workers Achievement Tests. The Reading Freedom 2000 program provides a systematic approach to the teaching of reading at all levels of the phonic hierarchy of skills. The program offers much more than mechanical drill exercises – the activities in each level are designed to give students effective word attack skills so they can develop the motivation to read widely for their own enjoyment. All components of the Reading Freedom 2000 program are based on contemporary research into the ways children best learn to read. Upon completion of the Reading Freedom 2000 program, students will have mastered the skills necessary for them to become independent readers. Word Workers Book 1: Phonemic awareness is the essential precondition for successful reading acquisition. In this book students are taught to discriminate vowel and consonant sounds in words. Word Workers adopts a phonic approach to learning to read. Students learn how to ascribe sounds to letters, and how to apply the regularities in letter-sound relationships by following generalised rules. They are also introduced to the basic sight words needed to work with Word Workers Book 2. Simple blending techniques are introduced once students master vowel and consonant sounds. Students expand their phonemic awareness skills to include transitional elements to prepare them for the next stage in their reading acquisition. They are expected to recognise letter-sound relationships and write letters for the sounds they hear. Students are also expected to demonstrate alphabet knowledge as well as to continue to add to their knowledge of basic sight vocabulary. Blending skills are consolidated and refined. In Word Workers Book 2: Single letter-sound correspondences, students learn to apply phonemic awareness skills to read simple three-sound words - 'bat', 'hen', 'lock'. Simple and regularly occurring consonant digraphs - 'ck', 'll', 'ss' - are introduced. The activity pages in each unit consolidate the acquisition of these basic reading skills. Blending skills are consolidated and refined as each vowel sound is introduced. In Word Workers Book 3: Initial and Terminal Blends, students learn to read words containing initial and terminal blends - 'nd', 'st', 'cr', and so on. The activity pages consolidate the acquisition of these skills. Initial and terminal blending skills are introduced and practised. After completing this book, students will be able to read and spell words containing initial and terminal blends and work with skill-appropriate comprehension activities. In Word Workers Book 4: Consonant digraphs, students learn to read words containing digraphs, long vowels and words with the soft ‘c’ and ‘g’. The activity pages consolidate the acquisition of these skills. Blending techniques are used to apply to new skills as they are introduced. After completing this book, students will be able to read and spell words containing these sounds and phonic generalisations and work with skill-appropriate comprehension activities. In Word Workers Book 5, students learn to read words containing digraphs and diphthongs, vowels before ‘r’ and silent letters. Blending techniques are used to apply to new skills as they are introduced. After completing this book, students will be able to read and spell words containing these sounds and phonic generalisations and work with skill-appropriate comprehension activities. In Word Workers Book 6, students learn to read compound words and master the higher order of syllabification. They read multisyllable words. After completing this book, students will be able to read and spell words containing these word patterns and enhance their vocabulary development and basic comprehension skills through a variety of challenging and motivational activities. The Word Workers Teacher Resource Book provides all the information you will need to use the Word Workers series successfully. Features include: - An overview of the techniques for effective phonics instruction - Photocopiable classroom aids and record sheets - Reproductions of all the activity pages in the series with answers marked for easy student monitoring. - Practical suggestions and lesson plans for successful teaching. The Word Workers Teacher Resource Book has been designed as a user-friendly resource for all reading teachers The Word Workers Achievement Tests book is a carefully structured series of tests to monitor student progress. The tests align with the Activity Books of the series, and are designed to provide a familiar and non-threatening form of assessment. Word Workers Achievement Tests allows teachers to instruct, and provide an encouraging record of progress.