Teaching and Learning About Spelling

About this teaching resource

Wondering how to teach spelling within the context of writing, focusing on the major spelling strategies, including the automatic writing of the most used words?

It’s easy to get started with Diane Snowball's comprehensive article Teaching and Learning About Spelling, covering the critical aspects of what students need to be taught, and what to learn to be effective spellers and writers.

The major purpose for students to learn how to spell words the conventional way is for others to be able to read their writing.
This means that classrooms need to provide students with many opportunities to:

• Write all kinds of texts for a range of audiences
• Have many opportunities to read each other’s writing and
• Provide helpful feedback for the writer.

Within this context, the teaching of spelling becomes relevant, purposeful and authentic.

Teaching and Learning About Spelling includes:

• Context for teaching spelling
• The spelling curriculum and students’ understanding about spelling
• Strategies used for spelling
• Teaching and learning about spelling strategies through investigations
• Learning high-frequency words for writing and reading
• Learning personal new words for writing
• Learning about words
• Learning about spelling patterns
• Learning about spelling generalisations
• Other investigations

Want to count your Professional Reading towards professional learning hours? We know Di’s professional readings are actionable, so we’ve also included a Reflections and Actions prompt sheet.

• Diane Snowball is a Victorian educator with teaching experience that has ranged from prep through university levels over the past 50 years. Her experience includes both teaching and administrative roles in secondary and primary schools, but the majority of her time has been devoted to the provision of professional learning for teachers and those involved in all levels of school leadership, with a focus on improving students’ literacy.