Spelling Success Essentials
Phonics and Early Morphology Catch-Up for Older Students
Every school is navigating the same problem right now: how to fill spelling gaps in an age-appropriate, efficient way.
So many students, even those who perform well on spelling tests, do not understand how words work. There are two categories of students: those who 'know what looks right' and those who just guess. This shows up in a number of ways:
- When reading, students sound out the first few phonemes or a multimorphemic (longer) word and then guess the word based on context (or skip the word entirely)
- When writing, students use random letters in unknown words (or pop an <e> on the end in hopes that it will fix things)
- (worse still) Students have interesting things to say in their writing, and they don't because they are unsure of spelling.
Word-level knowledge is critical for strong text-level reading and writing. Without it, our students will never reach their potential.
How Spelling Success is Different from Other Programs
Spelling Success in Action 1: Essentials
- Provides full guidance to lighten teachers' cognitive load, while scaffolding their decision-making. We never want to take the instruction out of the teacher's hands.
- Walks teachers step by step through using data to make decisions about the starting point and progression through the program. We know that different students have different needs, and the best teaching responds to that reality.
- Focuses on teacher-led instruction, not PowerPoints. Teacher guides provide full guidance for interactive, high-engagement lessons.
- Provide students with many encounters with a range of words featuring the same pattern, both on their own and in context. This facilitates long-term schema development, particularly for students who struggle. Research shows that these students require more encounters with word patterns than their peers to learn new content.
- Is written with cognitive load in mind. We introduce just ONE new concept at a time. We don't assume knowledge. We ensure it.
- Include teacher training as a standard inclusion as part of the book purchase. There are no additional charges.
- Have the option of school-level coaching and in-class modelling. We are here to walk with you through the journey.
Other Programs
- Take the decisions out of teachers' hands. Heavily scripted, inflexible programs consign teachers to the role of program deliverer rather than a responsive teacher.
- Use a 'one size fits all' approach that assumes that all Year 5 or all Year 8 students need the same things.
One size fits all = one size fits none. The starting point is the first program lesson for every student. - Include hundreds of PowerPoint slides for teachers to 'click through'. The focus of the lesson is on the slide, not on the instruction.
- Can focus on a very small number of words that features each concept or pattern. This sits in direct opposition to research showing that students need a larger corpus of words to embed patterns in long-term memory for automatic reading and spelling. Students are expected to develop a schema based on only a small number of encounters.
- Include many activities and lesson elements at once, leading to cognitive overload for students. Lessons often assume that what was taught in the previous lesson has stuck.
- Require and then charge for training on a per-person basis, making quality instruction unsustainable in the long term.
- Sell you the program and then leave you to problem-solve on your own. Ongoing support, if provided, is not tailored to your school's context or needs.
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Spelling Success in Action 1 has been designed specifically for older students
While the core content of the program is phonics, orthographic conventions, and early morphology (suffixing conventions), the instructional style is designed for students in Years 3-8.
Word lists are differentiated so that teachers can make decisions about which words are most appropriate for students.
We know that time is precious in an upper primary or secondary classroom. All lessons have been designed to last between 15 and 20 minutes, with four lessons across the week.
We have three ordering options
All options include access to online recorded training
Teacher Guides Only
$160 + gst
Spelling Success in Action 1 includes two Teacher Guides
- Spelling Success in Action 1: Phonics Essentials
- Spelling Success in Action 1: Morphology Essentials
To order multiple copies, click here
Most popular
Essentials Package
$259 + gst
- Spelling Success in Action 1: Phonics Essentials Teacher Guide
- Spelling Success in Action 1: Morphology Essentials Teacher Guide
- Resource Room Access for 12 months, which includes text-based units, extended morphology lessons, and syntax resources.
N.B. Resource Room membership will then renew each year.
Implementation Coaching
$660 + gst
Implementation coaching comprises three sessions with one of our expert team members, where we will help you:
-Plan for training and implementation
- Analyse data to find your perfect starting point
- Navigate the inevitable logistical challenges that arise in any new initiative
Not sure if your students need Spelling Success in Action 1? Download the assessment below and find out.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are some of the questions people frequently ask us:
What grades is Spelling Success in Action 1 suitable for?
Spelling Success in Action 1 has been written specifically for Years 3-8. However, it can be used for students in grades 9-12 as needed.
How long do lessons take?
Spelling Success in Action 1 lessons last for approximately 15-20 minutes per day. Each unit lasts for 4 days.
Are there workbooks for this program?
No. Students use a regular A4 exercise book for this work.
How does Spelling Success in Action support differentiation?
Differentiation is managed in a variety of ways, including differentiated word lists, differentiated lesson printables, and other lesson features.
What content does the program teach?
Spelling Success in Action covers phonics, orthographic conventions (spelling rules) and early morphology including the three critical suffixing conventions.
Is there a scope and sequence?
Yes. Each section of the program has a recommended scope and sequence of 10 or 16 units.
Is there an online component to this program?
All required digital resources are available in the Spelling Success in Action 1 portal, however a Resource Room member will provide units and lessons for the whole literacy block for Years 3-6.
Is Spelling Success in Action evidence informed?
Yes. Findings from intervention studies and broader research on spelling instruction have informed the content and structure of this program. Download the brochure to find a summary of research links.
Does Spelling Success in Action teach in low variance routines?
Yes. Each unit in a sequence follows a reliable structure giving students the safety and security of knowing what is to come.
Does the program have daily review and assessment?
Yes. Spelling success in Action 1 has a diagnostic and monitoring assessment, a summative assessment for each unit, and a daily review built in.