Wordling with Elementary Students: Developing Discrete Literacy Skills through Puzzles and Word Games

Metalinguistic Awareness is the ability to consciously reflect on and manipulate language, from the level of the phoneme, to words, to whole phrases. Research has shown that engaging in metalinguistic activities can have a positive impact on reading. This article details some of the component skills of metalinguistic awareness (in this case, primarily phonology, morphology, and semantics) and explores how word puzzles can be employed as a means of authentic practice for elementary age students. The authors describe how to analyze games and puzzles for the component language skills practiced, and also how to get started implementing them in the classroom. Strategies are discussed in how to modify and use these games in support of an existing curriculum.