SP Teen Course: Introduction to Structured Word Inquiry
If learning rules with tons of exceptions and rote memorization of words isn't working, it's time to try a new approach. This class will transform learners' understanding of words and how spelling works while also improving vocabulary.
Andrea Dalland, M.Ed, MLS
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(142)
Star Educator
Popular
What's included
8 pre-recorded lessons
8 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentHomework
1 hour per week. There will be a homework assignment following each class, which will give learners the opportunity to practice what has been learned in the lesson. Homework will take about 10-20 minutes after each lesson.Class Experience
US Grade 7 - 10
Intermediate Level
I also offer a live version of this class. If you would prefer a live version you can find it here: https://outschool.com/classes/unlocking-the-mysteries-of-english-spelling-a-live-8-week-class-BcfHP84y?usid=nD85Y1ms&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link If you are like most speakers of English, you’ve been taught to spell a word by “sounding it out.” But you probably also know that this strategy only works a small handful of times. Between silent letters, letters that can make more than one sound, and words that sound exactly the same but are spelled differently…..the number of obstacles in the way of “sounding out” words makes this strategy inefficient at best and frustrating at worst. If rote memorization of lists of spelling words, copying sentences, and applying spelling “rules” that have dozens of exceptions just isn't working for your learner, it may be time for a different approach. Most spelling programs leave students with serious misunderstandings about how spelling really works. This course will reveal that English spelling is actually highly ordered and logical, once you have unlocked some of its secrets. Students will learn to break words apart into bases, prefixes, and suffixes, and use those parts to make informed decisions about how to spell and understand what words mean. Students will learn to think like “word scientists,” making a hypothesis about spelling patterns, testing their theories, and discovering rules of spelling that actually work. This class will boost not only their spelling skills, but expand their vocabulary as well. It’s an exploration of etymology and morphology that will transform the way they think about words and the way English spelling functions. *This is a Self-Paced Class, there are no live classes.* Each week, a video lesson will be posted. The lessons will be around 20-30 minutes long, and there will be about 10-15 minutes of homework to complete after each lesson. Some questions, or other additional words to consider, will be posted for discussion, and students are encouraged to ask questions about their learning and about words they notice and want to learn more about. Live 1:1 meetings can be arranged if students have questions or need additional help that can’t be easily provided through messaging. Some weeks will include some bonus content with extra snippets of fascinating insights about the English language that will help support spelling skills.
Learning Goals
At the end of this class, students will be able to:
-break words apart into prefixes, bases, and suffixes
-understand how to identify the graphemes, morphemes, and phonemes that create a word
-understand that words that are connected in meaning will also be connected in spelling
-understand how adding a suffix can change the spelling of a base word, for example by dropping a silent -e or doubling a final consonant
-use provided flow charts and matrices to make decisions about spelling when adding a suffix to a base word
-approach spelling problems by "thinking like a scientist," making a hypothesis about a word, testing their hypothesis, and seeing the results
-know how to do research into a word's morphology and etymology
Syllabus
8 Lessons
over 8 WeeksLesson 1:
The History of English
We will start by learning more about the history of the English language and how some historical events have impacted our spelling system. We'll also be dismantling the idea that the job of English spelling is to represent sound, and we'll examine several examples of words that prove that the primary purpose of the spelling system is to represent meaning. Lesson 2:
Morphemes, Phonemes and Graphemes
Students will learn the definitions of phonemes, graphemes, and morphemes and how they work together to spell words. Lesson 3:
Suffixing Conventions Part 1
A closer look at suffixing and figuring out the suffixing rules for dropping a silent e and changing y to an i. We will learn to think like "Word Scientists" to make hypotheses and then use words to test them and come to conclusions about the suffixing rules. We'll learn how to use flowcharts that help us apply the rules of suffixing. Lesson 4:
Suffixing Conventions Part 2
We will learn when to double a final consonant in a base when adding a suffix Other Details
Supply List
I recommend students have a notebook for this class for taking notes, writing word sums, keeping lists of prefixes, suffixes and bases and to store flowcharts or other printable materials that will be shared for use during the class.
Sources
The content of this class is based off the work of Peter Bowers, Melvyn Ramsden, Sue Hegland, Fiona Hamilton, and many others. Some of the resources used were created by Peter Bowers and used with his permission. More about his work with the WordWorks Literacy Centre can be found at: https://wordworkskingston.com/WordWorks/Home.html
Joined July, 2022
5.0
142reviews
Star Educator
Popular
Teacher expertise and credentials
North Carolina Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in Education from University of Missouri at Columbia
Bachelor's Degree in Education from Calvin College
I have had extensive professional development in the ideas presented in this class, including working directly with Peter Bowers and WordWorksKingston to learn the principles of Structured Word Inquiry, and I have seven years of experience teaching this content in a classroom setting. I have also been involved in the creation of resources for colleagues to use in their teaching as they implemented SWI in their own classrooms. Reviews
Self-Paced Course
$12
weekly or $96 for all content8 pre-recorded lessons
8 weeks of teacher support
Choose your start date
1 year of access to the content
Completed by 34 learners
Choose your start date
Ages: 13-16
