$180

for 12 classes

Introduction to Structured Word Inquiry (Spelling)

Completed by 24 learners

Ages 13-16

Live Group Course

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:

(155 reviews)

Star Educator

Live video meetings

1x per week, 12 weeks

3-10 learners per class

45 min

About Learning Overview Teacher Reviews

What's included

12 live meetings

9 in-class hours

Homework

We will plan to complete practice work together during the class time, however there may be some weeks when we run out of time to finish the work together, and students may need to finish some of the work on their own. It should take students no longer than 10-15 minutes to complete.

Class Experience

US Grade 7 - 10

Intermediate Level

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. 
 
Throughout the class, learners are welcomed and encouraged to submit words they find difficult to spell or otherwise mysterious, and I'm happy to build these words into our investigations. Students will come away from the class with a clear understanding that every word is spelled the way it is for a reason, and that it's possible to research, learn and understand the reasons for every spelling!

If you are interested in reading more about the  Structured Word Inquiry approach to teaching spelling, these are good places to start:
https://psyarxiv.com/aktzw/
https://learningaboutspelling.com/about-2/

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

-approach spelling problems by "thinking like a scientist," making a hypothesis about a word, testing their hypothesis, and seeing the results  
-be able to do research into the etymology of a word to learn more about its meaning, origin, and spelling pat

Syllabus

Standards

Aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS)

12 Lessons

over 12 Weeks

Lesson 1:

Introduction and the History of English

 We'll start by learning the history of English and how we have arrived at where we are and which factors have influenced our spelling. We'll also start 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.

45 mins online live lesson

Lesson 2:

Morphemes, Phonemes and Graphemes

 Students will learn the definitions of phonemes, graphemes, and morphemes and how they work together to spell words. We'll also learn about Word Families and how words from the same base will share connections in meaning and spelling.

45 mins online live lesson

Lesson 3:

Suffixing Rules Part 1

 We'll take a closer look at suffixing and figuring out the suffixing rules for dropping a silent e and changing y to 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.

45 mins online live lesson

Lesson 4:

Suffixing Rules Part 2

 We will continue to work with suffixing rules for doubling a final consonant and practice applying the suffixing rules by building word with a matrix.

45 mins online live lesson

Other Details

Learning Needs

This class is excellent for learning differences like dyslexia which may make traditional spelling methods difficult. Not much intensive reading or writing is required so it is very suitable for learners who may be working below grade level

Pre-Requisites

Learners should know the difference between vowels and consonants and be aware of prefixes and suffixes. Learners should understand letter-sound correspondences and may have had teaching in phonics-based programs in the past.

Supply List

It is recommended for students to keep a small notebook for taking notes, writing word sums, and keeping lists of prefixes, suffixes and bases that we discover during the class. Students will be provided with a digital workbook on Canva that they have the option to use as well to take notes or do practice work.

External Resources

Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.

Sources

The content of this class is based off the work of Melvyn Ramsden, Peter Bowers, Sue Scabetta 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 During the class, we will use online resources including dictionary.com, thesaurus.com, and etymonline.com. Students will not need to access these sites directly, I will share these via screen share.

Meet the teacher

Andrea Dalland, M.Ed, MLS

Joined July, 2022

5.0

155reviews

Star Educator

Profile

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.