Learning Partnership
This Week's Learning Bulletin: SPELLING
We have a whole school approach to teaching spelling. Our program is a combination of MSL (multisensory structured language) that focuses on the 7 syllable types and 6 spelling rules, and Letters and Sounds that focuses on phonics and morphology.
How Our School Teaches Spelling
At our school, we teach spelling through a process called encoding. Encoding means identifying the sounds (also known as phonemes) we hear in a word and then recording those sounds using the correct letters or letter combinations (called graphemes).
For example, in the word ship, children listen carefully for the sounds /sh/ /i/ /p/.
They then learn which letters represent those sounds - sh, i, and p - and write them down to spell the word correctly.
As children progress, we also teach morphology, which helps them understand how words are built and related. This includes learning about prefixes (beginnings of words, like un in unhappy) and suffixes (endings, like ed in jumped or ful in helpful). Understanding these patterns helps children recognise meaning, build vocabulary, and apply their spelling knowledge to a wider range of words.
By combining sound and letter knowledge (phonics) with word structure (morphology), children develop a deep understanding of how words work. This approach helps them become confident, accurate, and independent spellers who can use their skills in all areas of learning.
Our 2025 NAPLAN results for both Year 3 and Year 5 students who sat the SPELLING assessments this year reflect our effective teaching practices and instructional model
Year 3: % of children who performed at exceeding or strong ( the top 2 bands) is 88%
Year 5: % of children who performed at exceeding or strong ( the top 2 bands) is 86%
Please take the time to read your class Bulletin as it aims to communicate what is being taught in the classroom, how your child is developing as a speller and how you can support your child at home.
Connie Apostolos
Assistant Principal