- English Language Arts and Reading
- Grade 3
- Developing and sustaining foundational language skills
alphabetize a series of words to the third letter; and
Consider pairing SE 3.2.A.vii with SE 3.2.C and assessing both SEs at the same time. With SE 3.2.A.vii, students identify and read high-frequency words from a research-based list. After weekly series of high-frequency words have been reviewed as a class, assess identification of high-frequency words as students trace the letters of each word and then read the words aloud. Then, task students with writing the words in alphabetical order.
This SE requires students to quickly recall the order of the letters of the alphabet and to use the system of alphabetization beyond the first letter position of words (apple, bear, car). Students will need to recognize that when words share the first two letters, the third letter is what determines the order in which words should be alphabetized.
Rule, A. C. (2001). Alphabetizing with environmental print. The Reading Teacher, 54(6), 558. Retrieved from https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A71820531/PROF?u=tea&sid=PROF&xid=619f6f53
Summary: Alphabetizing has value, but typical alphabetizing activities do not engage students' interest. The use of environmental print word sets allow students to concentrate on the alphabetizing task rather than on re-copying words. Instructions are provided for how to create and use environmental print words in the classroom.