Unlock Literacy Success: Replay of the Word Cracker Webinar on new features and Literacy Intervention.
We are thrilled to offer you the opportunity to watch the replay of our recent webinar, where we delved into the extensive features and functionalities of Word Cracker, an essential tool for enhancing literacy through morphological intervention.
Hosted by Bill Hansberry, alongside Sally Andrew and Michael Shanahan, this session provided valuable insights and practical demonstrations aimed at helping educators, tutors, and parents elevate their teaching strategies.
Webinar content
Evolution of Word Cracker:
Sally Andrew provided an insightful history of Word Cracker’s development, from its origins as a physical board tool to its transformation into a comprehensive online platform. Originally created to support children in literacy interventions, Word Cracker quickly became indispensable for tutors. However, recognizing the need for a more scalable tool, we expanded Word Cracker into its current digital form, which is now enriched with a multitude of features that make it adaptable to various educational contexts.
Webinar Highlights: Comprehensive Feature Walkthrough
During the webinar, we explored Word Cracker’s vast capabilities, emphasizing how it can be used to deepen students’ understanding of morphology—a critical component of literacy.
- Initial Learning:
- We demonstrated how Word Cracker introduces young students to suffixes and their impact on word meaning. For example, by adding the suffix ‘s’ to ‘cat,’ students learn to form ‘cats,’ reinforcing basic morphological concepts.
- Comprehensive Preset Functionality:
- Michael Shanahan guided attendees through the preset functionalities within Word Cracker. These presets align with specific learning objectives and can be customized to meet individual student needs, providing a structured yet flexible approach to lesson planning.
- Custom Morphemes and Spelling Rules:
- We discussed the importance of end patterns for suffix spelling rules and how Word Cracker automatically patterns base words and detects and warns users about unsafe patterns. Michael also demonstrated how to create and save custom morphemes and lesson presets, allowing for tailored lessons that address specific vocabulary or spelling patterns.
- Cross-Curricular Applications:
- Word Cracker’s utility extends beyond literacy, as Michael illustrated through its application in teaching math vocabulary. By using morphology to break down complex terms, students can better grasp mathematical concepts, enhancing both their literacy and numeracy skills.
Elevate Your Teaching with Word Cracker
Thank you to everyone who participated in our live webinar and those who are now catching up with the replay. We are committed to supporting educators in their mission to improve literacy outcomes, and Word Cracker is designed to be a vital part of that journey. Please stay connected with us by subscribing to our newsletter below for updates on future webinars, new features, and more educational resources.