How To Teach Spelling In Primary Schools

A couple of years ago I worked with a primary school to develop their teaching of spelling. The process of preparing and delivering a training course, with one CPD session each half term, resulted in this series of blog posts.

I've gathered the whole series here for ease of reference. Together, the five posts explore how to teach spelling in primary schools, from understanding how children learn to spell and teaching spelling patterns explicitly, to assessment, feedback and practical activities.

The aim throughout is to move beyond simply asking children to memorise lists of words and towards teaching spelling in a way that helps children understand how words work.

1. Teaching Spelling Explicitly

What does effective spelling instruction actually look like? This first post explores how to select appropriate words to teach, the role of retrieval and testing, and why spelling should be taught explicitly through patterns in phonics, morphology and etymology, rather than simply asking children to memorise lists of words.

Part 1: https://www.aidansevers.com/post/the-right-est-way-to-teach-spelling-part-1

2. Why Is English Spelling So Difficult?

English spelling can seem like a complete mess, with the same sounds represented in different ways and the same letter combinations pronounced differently. This post explores why English spelling is so complex, but also why it is more predictable than it first appears, and how understanding the history, patterns and structure of the language can help children learn to spell.

Part 2: https://www.aidansevers.com/post/the-right-est-way-to-teach-spelling-part-2

3. Giving Children Effective Spelling Feedback

What should teachers actually do when children spell words incorrectly? This post looks at spelling tests and children's written work, distinguishing between mistakes and misconceptions and considering how teachers can use what they see to inform future teaching, rather than simply asking children to correct or repeatedly write out words.

Part 3: https://www.aidansevers.com/post/the-right-est-way-to-teach-spelling-part-3

4. How Children Learn to Spell

How do children get from having to think carefully about every spelling to spelling words automatically? This post explores the different sources of knowledge that good spellers draw on, including phonology, orthography, morphology, etymology and word class, and considers what these mean for developing a primary spelling curriculum.

Part 4: https://www.aidansevers.com/post/the-right-est-way-to-teach-spelling-part-4

5. Practical Strategies for Teaching Spelling

Knowing what children need to learn is one thing; knowing what to actually do in a spelling lesson is another. This final post explores practical, linguistically explicit approaches to spelling, including breaking words down, considering where spelling patterns occur, using sound partners and looking at word class, with examples showing how children can be taught to reason their way towards a spelling.

Part 5: https://www.aidansevers.com/post/the-right-est-way-of-teaching-spelling-part-5

Need Help Developing Spelling In Your School?

Good spelling teaching isn't just about choosing a spelling programme or giving children words to learn. It involves thinking carefully about what children need to know, how spelling should be taught and how teachers can help pupils understand the patterns within words.

I work with schools to develop teaching and curriculum, including spelling, in ways that are informed by research but workable in real classrooms.

Find out more about my education consultancy services, or get in touch to talk about what your school needs.