Teaching Spelling Across Developmental Ages

Day 1: Foundations of Spelling Development

1. Spelling as a Language-Based Process

Speech-to-print connection
Relationship between spelling, reading, and writing
Why spelling instruction matters for literacy outcomes

2. Developmental Stages of Spelling

Emergent → Early → Transitional → Conventional
What is developmentally appropriate at each stage
Recognizing typical vs. delayed patterns

3. Critical Components of Spelling

Phonological Processing (sound awareness, segmentation, manipulation)
Orthographic Knowledge (patterns, rules, visual memory)
Morphology (base words, prefixes, suffixes)
Linguistic Influences (syntax, semantics, vocabulary)

4. Analyzing Student Errors

What errors reveal about underlying skills
Moving from “wrong word” to instructional insight
Introduction to diagnostic teaching framework
Day 2: Instruction & Application Across Ages

5. Explicit, Structured Spelling Instruction

Principles of explicit instruction
Systematic scope and sequence
Multisensory and speech-to-print strategies

6. Instruction Across Developmental Levels

Early learners: phoneme-grapheme mapping
Intermediate learners: patterns and rules
Advanced learners: morphology and word analysis
Adapting instruction for mixed-level classrooms

7. Diagnostic Teaching for Struggling Spellers

Adjusting instruction based on student response
Intensifying support without lowering expectations
Supporting students with dyslexia and language impairments

8. Integrating Spelling Across Literacy

Embedding spelling into reading and writing
Dictation, encoding, and application activities
Promoting generalization beyond isolated word lists

9. Practical Application & Planning

Reviewing student work samples
Designing targeted lessons
Creating carryover strategies for classroom use

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