Word Study Assessment Procedures

During the first week of school, and throughout the school year, first grade
teachers will assess the students using the Ganske Feature Inventory. Use
the following schedule to know which assessment to administer.
First
Last
Last
Last
Last

Week
Week
Week
Week
Week

of
of
of
of
of

School
1st Nine Weeks
2nd Nine Weeks
3rd Nine Weeks
4th Nine Weeks

Form
Form
Form
Form
Form

A
B
A
B
A

Step 1: Feature Inventory

1. Tell the children they will be taking a spelling test. Remind them this is
not a grade, this is just to see what they already know. Explain some
may be easy and some may be hard. Tell them if they do not know
how to spell a word, write the sounds they hear. This can be done in
whole class or small group.
2. Give each child the corresponding blank form to use as an answer
sheet. It is very important they write word 1 on line 1 and so on. If
they get their numbering off the results will not be accurate.
3. Begin by dictating the word, sentence, and word again from the Letter
Name feature list (see schedule above). Complete all 25 words.
The features tested in the Letter Name Stage are as follows:
A = Initial and Final Consonants
B = Initial Consonant Blends & Digraphs
C = Short Vowels
D = Affricates
E = Final Consonant Blends & Digraphs
The features tested in the Within Word Stage are as follows:
F = Long Vowels (VCVe)
G = R-Controlled Vowels
H = Other Common Long Vowels
I = Complex Consonants
J = Abstract Vowels

Step 2: Score Inventory

1. Score the inventory with a 2, 1, or 0.

2 = feature and word correct
1 = feature correct
0 = nothing correct
Example:
1. dret (jet) 0 points = student misspelled word and missed
feature
2. shep (ship) 1 point = student misspelled word and feature
correct
3. bet (bet) 2 points = word correct and feature correct
(The features are underlined on the answer card.)
2. Add up the number of correctly spelled words (those with a 2). Record
in the space provided on the answer sheet.
3. Add up how many As were spelled correctly, how many Bs were
spelled correctly and so on. Record in space provided on the answer
sheet. There are 5 features (A, B, C, D, E,) and 5 words for each
feature. A perfect score would look like this:

A
5

FEATURE KNOWLEDGE
B
C
D
5
5
5

E
5

4. Add up all the features spelled correctly. This is the stage score.
Record in the space provided on the answer sheet. A perfect score
would be 25.
5. Transfer all this information to the DSA Class Record form.
6. If the students stage score is 22 or more, continue dictating words
from the next feature list. First grade usually does not move past the
Within Word stage.
Step 3: Analyzing the Inventory
5 correct = Mastered feature
3-4 = Begin instruction here, with reviews
0-2 correct = lacks feature understanding, needs full instruction
(They must have mastered A before moving on to B and so on)

DSA Form A: Letter Name Feature List

1. jet

The jet made a safe landing.

2. ship

The ship sailed across the water.

3. bet

I bet you will finish the book today.

4. got

The boy got a new dog.

5. cap

the new baseball cap was red.

6. drum

We could hear the drum beat.

7. bump

The bump on his head hurt.

8. much

The boy didnt have much homework.

9. with

My brother will come with us.

10.

map

The woman looked at a map of the city.

11.

hop

A rabbit can hop.

12.

plan

The class will plan a party.

13.

that

What is making that noise?

14.

slid

The player slid into second base.

15.

mud

There was mud on the floor.

16.

grab

She had to grab her hat in the wind.

17.

chop

Please chop the carrots into pieces.

18.

fast

The girl is a fast runner.

19.

dish

The dish fell and broke.

20.

went

The car went past our house.

21.

win

Lets try to win the game.

22.

fed

The farmer fed the cow hay.

23.

trip

The family took a trip to the beach.

24.

rub

I will rub the penny to make it shine.

25.

fit

The dress did not fit the girl.

Name _____________________________

Date _____________________

Letter Name Answer Sheet - Form A

1. ______________________D

20. ______________________E

2. ______________________B

21. ______________________A

3. ______________________C

22. ______________________A

4. ______________________A

23. ______________________D

5. ______________________C

24. ______________________A

6. ______________________D

25. _______________________C

7. ______________________E
8. ______________________D

FEATURE KNOWLEDGE
A
B
C

9. ______________________E
10. _____________________A
11. _____________________C
12. _____________________B
13. _____________________B

A initial/ final consonants

B initial consonant
blends/digraphs
C short vowels
D affricates
E final consonant
blends/diagraphs

14. _____________________B
Correctly Spelled Words _________

15. _____________________C

Stage Score _________

16. _____________________B
17. _____________________D
18. _____________________E
19. ______________________E

22-25
12-21
0-11

move to next level

instructional zone
frustration

DSA Form A: Letter Name Answer Card

1. j et...D
2. sh ip.....B
3. b e t.C
4. g ot..A
5. c a p...C
6. dr um..D
7. bu mp.....E
8. mu ch.D
9. wi th.E
10. ma p.A
11. h o p.C
12. pl an..B
13. th at...B
14. sl id.B
15. m u d....C
16. gr ab..B
17. ch op.D
18. fa st.
..E

19. di sh.
.E
20. we nt
E
21. wi n.
..A
22. f ed......
A
23. tr
ip...D
24. r ub...
A
25. f i t...
..C

DSA Form B: Letter Name Feature List

1. path

We walked on the path.

2. camp

The family will camp at the park.

3. lap

They ran one lap around the track.

4. drop

She tried not ot drop the vase.

5. top

A top can spin round and round.

6. rip

Try not to rip the paper.

7. cut

Scissors can cut paper.

8. shop

The toy shop was closed.

9. chin

Your chin is below your mouth.

10. van

Dad drives us to school in his van.

11. wet

The grass is wet after a rain.

12. nest

There were three eggs in the nest.

13. glad

I am glad the work is done.

14. hot

Summertime can be very hot.

15. dig

Dogs like to dig holes.

16. rich

The rich man lived in a castle.

17. tub

The tub has water in it.

18. hunt

The Indians used to hunt buffalo.

19. this

What is this thing?

20. yes

The teacher answered Yes, to my question.

21. spot

The girl has a spot on her new dress.

22. trot

Horses sometimes trot.

23. fish

There are many fish in the ocean.

24. crib

The baby was sleeping in a crib.

25. job

He drives 10 miles to his job.

Name _____________________________

Date _____________________

Letter Name Answer Sheet - Form B

18. _____________________E
1. _____________________E
19. _____________________B
2. ______________________E
20. _____________________A
3. _____________________C
21. _____________________B
4. _____________________D
22. _____________________D
5. _____________________A
23. _____________________E
6. _____________________C
24. _____________________B
7. _____________________A
25. _____________________D
8. _____________________B
9. _____________________D

FEATURE KNOWLEDGE
A
B
C

10. ____________________A
11. ____________________C
12. ____________________E
13. ____________________B
14. ____________________C
15. ____________________A
16. ____________________D

A initial/ final consonants

B initial consonant
blends/digraphs
C short vowels
D affricates
E final consonant
blends/diagraphs
Correctly Spelled Words _________
Stage Score _________

17. ____________________C
22-25
12-21
0-11

move to next level

instructional zone
frustration

DSA Form B: Letter Name Answer Card

1. pa th...E
18. hu ntE
2. ca mp..E
19. th is..B
3. l a p..C
20. y es..A
4. dr opD
21. sp otB
5. t op...A
22. tr ot..D
6. r i pC
23. fi shE
7. c utA
24. cr ib..B
8. sh op.B
25. j ob...D
9. ch in..D
10. va n.A
11. w e t...C
12. ne stE
13. gl adB
14. h o tC
15. di g.A
16. ri chD
17. t u bC

DSA Form A: Within Word Feature List

1. patch

The pirate had a patch over his eye.

2. couch

His grandmother sat on the couch reading.

3. steep

The hill was very steep.

4. cute

Everyone thought the baby was cute.

5. bridge

The bridge had to be fixed.

6. glare

The glare of the sun made it hard to see.

7. scrap

A scrap of paper was found on the floor.

8. might

It might rain tomorrow.

9. girl
10. frown

The girl opened the envelope.

You could tell by her frown that the woman was

upset.
11. smoke

Smoke came out of the chimney.

12. flock

A flock of geese flew overhead.

13. stood

The boy stood on his tiptoes to reach the box.

14. least

The opposite of most is least.

15. short

The girl has short hair.

16. quite

It is quite sunny outside today.

17. grape

The grape juice tasted good.

18. yawn

When youre tired, you sometimes yawn.

19. drive

They will drive to the grocery store.

20. coast

Its fun to coast downhill on a bicycle.

21. hurt

The old man fell and hurt his back.

22. point

The teacher asked the child to point to the letter b.

23. ripe

A banana is ripe when it is yellow.

24. fear

He has a fear of the dark.

25. paint

the men were going to paint the house.

Name _____________________________
Within Word Answer Sheet - Form A

Date _____________________

19. ____________________F
1. ____________________I
2. ____________________J
3. ____________________H
4. ____________________F
5. ____________________I
6. ____________________G

20. ____________________H
21. ____________________G
22. ____________________J
23. ____________________F
24. ____________________G
25. ____________________H

7. ____________________I
8. ____________________H

FEATURE KNOWLEDGE
F
G
H

9. ____________________G
10. ___________________J
11. ___________________F
12. ___________________I

F
G
H
I

(scr,qu,ck)

13. ___________________J
14. ___________________H
15. ___________________G
16. ____________________I
17. ____________________F

Long Vowels: V-Consonant-E

R-Controlled Vowel Patterns
Other Common Long Vowels
Complex Consonants Units
Ambiguous Vowels

(Digraphs/

Diphthongs)

Correctly Spelled Words _________

Stage Score _________
22-25
12-21
0-11

move to next level

instructional zone
frustration

18. ____________________J

DSA Form A: Within Word Answer Card

1. pa tch.I

2. c ou chJ
14. l ea st.H
3. st ee p.H
15. sh or t.G
4. c u t e..F
16. qu ite...I
5. bri dge.I
17. gr a p e..F
6. gl are...G
18. y aw n.J
7. scr apI
19. dr i v e.F
8. m igh t.H
20. c oa stH
9. g ir l..G
21. h ur tG
10. fr ow n...J
22. p oi nt.J
11. sm o k eF
23. r i p e...F
12. flo ck...I
24. f ear.G
13. st oo d...J
25. p ai nt.H

DSA Form B: Within Word Feature List

1. broke

The glass broke when it fell.

2. burn

Be careful, so you dont burn your finger.

3. pine

the pine tree was very tall.

4. spoil

Put the meat in the refrigerator, so it wont spoil.

5. scare

Some people scare easily.

6. queen

the queen waved good-bye form the castle door.

7. cube

Each side of a cube is shaped like a square.

8. scrub

Cinderella had to scrub the floor.

9. slide

Its fun to go down the slide.

10. storm

The storm blew down a tree.

11. train

The train arrived on time.

12. brick

That brick building is a school.

13. growl

We heard the dog growl at the stranger.

14. peach

The peach was very juicy.

15. dawn

It begins to get light at dawn.

16. tight

His jacket was too tight.

17. catch

The little boy tried to catch the ball.

18. mound

The baseball pitcher stepped onto the mound.

19. sheet

the sheet of paper was covered with lines.

20. shook

She shook the grass off her coat.

21. roast

You can roast marshmallows over a fire.

22. dirt

There was a lot of dirt on the floor.

23. ridge

Their house is on top of the ridge.

24. frame

The picture has a wooden frame.

25. clear

The water is very clear.

Name _____________________________

Date _____________________

Within Word Answer Sheet - Form B

1. ____________________F

4. ____________________J

2. ____________________G

5. ____________________G

3. ____________________F

6. ____________________I

22. ____________________G
7. ____________________F
23. ____________________I
8. ____________________I
24. ____________________F
9. ____________________F
25. ____________________G
10. ___________________G
11. ___________________H
12. ___________________I

FEATURE KNOWLEDGE
F
G
H

13. ___________________J
14. ___________________H
15. ___________________J
16. ___________________H

F
G
H
I

Long Vowels: V-Consonant-E

R-Controlled Vowel Patterns
Other Common Long Vowels
Complex Consonants Units

(scr,qu,ck)

Ambiguous Vowels

(Digraphs/

Diphthongs)

17. ___________________I
18. ___________________J
19. ____________________H
20. ____________________J
21. ____________________H

Correctly Spelled Words _________

Stage Score _________
22-25
12-21
0-11

move to next level

instructional zone
frustration

DSA Form B: Within Word Answer Card

5. sc are.G
1. br o k e.F
6. qu eenI
2. b ur n.G
7. c u b eF
3. p i n e.F
8. scr ub..I
4. sp oi l..J
9. sl i d e..F

10. st or m..G

20. sh oo kJ

11. tr ai nH

21. r oa st..H

12. bri ck.I

22. d ir t.G

13. gr ow l..J

23. ri dgeI

14. p ea chH

24. fr a m eF

15. d aw n.J

25. cl ear...G

16. t igh tH
17. ca tch..I
18. m ou nd..J
19. sh ee t..H

STUDENTS
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
I
J

Other Syllable Juncture Doubling

K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
S
T

TOTAL INVENTORY SCORE

STAGE SCORE

Assimilated Prefixes

Latin-Derived Sufxes

SJ STAGE
Vowel Changes

Consonant changes

Silent & sounded consonants

STAGE SCORE

Unstressed Syllable vowel pattern

R-controlled vowels (stressed syllable)

WW STAGE
Long Vowel Patterns (Stressed Syllable)

Doubling & e-Drop with ed & ing

STAGE SCORE

Abstract Vowels

Complex Consonants

Other Common Long Vowels

LN STAGE
R-Controlled Vowels

Long Vowels (Vce)

STAGE SCORE

Final Consonant Blends & Digraphs

Affricates

Short vowels

Initial Consonant Blends & Digraphs

Initial & Final Consonants

DSA Class Record

DC STAGE

DSA Student Profile

Name:
Grade
Teacher
Date
Form

School:

Total Inventory Knowledge

Total Inventory
Score

Stage Knowledge
Derivational
Constancy
Syllable
Juncture
Within Word
Letter Name

Feature Knowledge
T-Assimilated
Prefixes
S-Latin Derived
Sufxes
R-Vowel Changes
Q-Consonant
Changes
P-Silent &
Sounded
Consonants
O-Unstressed
Syllable Vowel
Patterns
N-R-Controlled
Vowels (Stressed
Syllables)
M-Long Vowels
(Stressed
Syllables)
L-Other Syllable
Juncture Doubling
K-Doubling & eDrop with ed & ing
J-Abstract Vowels
I-Complex
Consonants
H-Other Long
Vowels
G-R-Controlled
Vowels
F-Long Vowels
(Vce)
E-Final Consonant
Blends & Digraphs

D-Affricates
C-Short Vowels
B-Initial Consonant
Blends &Digraphs
A-Initial & Final
Consonants

Letter Name Scope and Sequence*

Featur
e
A-1
A-2
A-3
A-4
A-5
C-1
C-2
C-3
C-4
C-5
C-6
C-7
B-1
B-2
B-3
B-4
B-5

Phonetic Principles

Examples

WTW Resources

Initial sound picture sorts

Initial sound picture sorts
Initial sound picture sorts
Initial sound picture sorts
Initial sound picture sorts
at families
ad, an families
ap, ag families
op, ot, og families
et, eg, en families
ug, ut, un families
Ig, ip, ill families
shack, hat, sock
chat, ham, cat
house, show, chow
think, what, that, when
shut, chimp, thud, whistle

Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort

B-6
B-7
B-8
B-9
B-10
B-11
B-12
B-13
B-14
C-8
C-9
C-10
C-11
C-12
C-13
C-14
E-9

Bb, Mm, Rr, Ss

Tt, Gg, Nn, Pp
Cc, Hh, Ff, Dd
Ll, Kk, Jj, Ww
Yy, Zz, Vv
Short a- CVC and VC
Short a- CVC and VC
Short a- CVC and VC
Short o- CVC and VC
Short e- CVC and VC
Short u- CVC and VC
Short i- CVC and VC
Initial digraphs s, sh, h
Initial digraphs c, ch, h
Initial digraphs h, sh, ch
Initial digraphs th, wh
Initial digraphs sh, ch, th,
wh
S blends- s, st, t
S blends- sp, sk, sm
S blends- sc, sn, sw
L Blends- p, l, pl
L Blends- pl, sl, bl
Blends- cr, cl, fr, fl
Blends- bl, br, gl, gr
Affricates- pr, tr, dr
Blends- k, wh, qu, tw
Short vowels
Short vowels
Short vowels
Short vowels
Short vowels
Short vowels
Short vowels
Final sh, -th, -ch

saw, stump, Tim

spot, skim, smile
scout, snip, swing
pat, play, last
plant, slip, blot
crash, climb, frame, flush
blimp, brown, glass, grind
print, trash, draw
kick, where, quick, twist
at, ot, it words
an, un, in words
ad, ed, ab, ob words
ag, eg, ig, og, ug words
ill, ell, all words
ick, ack, uck words
ish, ash, ush words
wish, tooth, crunch

E-10

Final nt, -nd, -ng

want, find, ring

E-11

Final lk, -mp

walk, jump

Sort 18
Sort 19
Sort 20
Sort 21
Sort 22
Sort 23
Sort 24
Sort 25
Sort 26
Sort 27
Sort 28
Sort 29
Sort 30
Sort 31
Sort 32
Sort 33
Teacher
made
Teacher
made
Teacher
made

*This scope and sequence is to be modified based on student need.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17

Within Word Scope and Sequence*

Featur
e

B-5
E-9
B-10, BB-13, BB-7, B-8
F-1
F-2
F-3
F-4
F-5
G-1
G-2
G-3
G-4
G-5
G-6
H-1
H-2
H-3
H-4
I-1
I-2
I-3
I-4
J-1
J-2
J-3
J-4
J-5
J-6
J-7
J-8
J-9

Phonetic Principles
Review short vowels /a/, /i/
Review short vowels /e/, /o/,
/u/
Review digraphs sh, ch, th,
wh
Review digraphs sh, -th,
-ch
Review L Blends bl, cl, fl, gl,
pl, sl
Review R Blends br, cr, dr,
fr, gr, pr, tr
Review S Blends sc, sk, sm,
sn, sp, st, sw
Long a- CVC, CVCe
Long i- CVC, CVCe
Long o- CVC, CVCe
Long u- CVC, CVCe
Long vowel review
R-Controlled ar, are, air
R-Controlled er, ear, eer
R-Controlled ir, ire, ier
R-Controlled or, ore, oar
R-Controlled ur, ure, ur_e
R-Controlled Review
Long a- CVC, CVCe, CVVC
Long o- CVC, CVCe, CVVC
Long u- CVC, CVCe, CVVC
Long e- CVC, CVVC, CVVC
Complex Consonants scr,
str, spr
Complex Consonants thr,
shr, squ
Complex Consonants dge,
ge, r/l/n+ge
Complex Consonants tch,
ch, r/l/n+ch
Long a- a, ai, ay
Long o- o, oa, ow
Long u- ew, ue
Long i- igh, y=i
Long vowel review
Abstract vowels oi, oy
Abstract vowels oo=u, oo
Abstract vowels aw, au
Abstract vowels ou, ow
Review

Examples

WTW Resources

ship, chop, then

Sort 17 in LN

wish, bath, inch

Teacher made

blot, clip, flag, glob, plug, sled

Sort 22 in LN

brag, crush, drop, frog, grin,

prom, trash
scab, skim, small, snip, spam,
stop, swim
cat, cake
pig, kite
sock, bone
cup, tube
CVC, CVCe review
care, hair, part
her, deer, ear
bird, fire, drier
form, shore, board, word
turn, sure, curve
ar, er, or review
brain, space, rash
lost, drove, road
cube, food, fruit, crust
less, feet, mean
screen, strong, spring

Sort 25 in LN

three, shread, squat

Sort 38

edge, age, large

Sort 41

catch, reach, porch

Sort 42

lay, trade, Spain, glass

froze, coal, show, stock
thumb, new, due
might, quick, why, write
CVCC, CVVC, CVCe, CV, CVV
point, toy
good, cool
saw, caught
sound, brown

Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort

Sorts 19-20 in LN
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort
Sort

*This scope and sequence is to be modified based on student need.

7
8
9
10
11
25
26
27
28
29
30
13
14
15
16
36

19
20
21
22
24
31
32
33
35

High Frequency Words

1st Grade
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36

a, read, can, boy, girl (K review)

cat, puppy, sing, book, not (K review)
laugh, had, and, run, jump (K review)
is, the, fast, funny, with (K review)
school, chair, grass, rain, in (K review)
will, at sit, to, on (K review)
ball, I, brown, go, play
house, today, little, look, saw
does, white, it, monkey, are
bring, keep, like, he, for
come, she, me, see, my
under, where, find, you, put
has, together, did, big, yes
mother, went, your, over, know
how, we, do, was, father
cut, up, our, this, get
here, all, us, out, after
take, what, from, thank, her
bus, rude, eat, about, let
stop, much, please, that, tell
write, ask, light, around, kind
no, him, sleep, help, of
have, some, if, said, there
cold, hot, going, think, before
am, may, would, found, its
pretty, cake, birthday, wish, draw
fish, by, man, could, so
myself, fly, be, when, old
an, grow, elephant, children, squirrel
why, milk, drink, toys, his
good, these, seven, better, got
first, start, blue, who, carry
never, table, hurt, any, water
doll, five, own, show, chickens

Week
1

read

can

boy

girl

Week
2

cat

puppy sing

book

now

Week
laugh
3

had

and

run

jump

Week
4

is

the

fast

funny

with

Week
school
5
chair grass

rain

in

Week
6

will

at

sit

to

on

Week
7

ball

brown

go

play

Week
house
8
today little

look

saw

Week
does
9

white

it

monkey

are

Week
bring
10
keep

like

he

for

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come
11
she

me

see

my

Week
under
12
where

find

you

put

Week
13

has

together

did

big

yes

Week
mother
14
went

your

over

know

Week
how
15
we

do

was

father

Week
16

cut

up

our

this

get

Week
here
17

all

us

out

after

Week
take
18
what

from

thank

her

Week
19

bus

ride

eat

about

let

Week
stop
20
much please

that

tell

Week
write
21

ask

light

around kind

Week
22

no

him

sleep

help

of

Week
have
23
some

if

said

there

Week
cold
24
hot

going

think before
Week
25

am

may would
found

its

Week
pretty
26

cake

birthda
y

wish

draw

Week
27

fish

by

man

could

so

Week
myself
28
fly

be

when

old

Week
29

an

grow

elephant

children squirrel

Week
why
30

milk

drink

toys

his

Week
good
31
these seven
better

got

Week
32

first

start

blue

who

carry

Week
never
33
table

hurt

any

water

Week
34

doll

five

own

show

chickens