Spelling: So Much More Than Memorization
Learn how to improve students’ spelling abilities by strengthening their word-solving skills.
No more test on Friday, misspell on Monday. During this 1-day workshop, you will learn about the multifaceted, frequently misunderstood concept of spelling and how you can teach for strong spelling skills.
- Classroom Teachers 1-6
- Interventionists/Specialists
- Literacy Coaches/Teacher Leaders
Join us for this one-day workshop that will transform the way you think about teaching spelling!
Research shows that memorizing spelling words isn’t enough. Spelling involves a complex process of using multiple sources of knowledge—phonology, morphology, orthography, and etymology—and applying that knowledge flexibly to accurately spell words.
You’ll gain practical strategies for teaching students how to study words and learn how to spark your students’ curiosity for spelling.
Topics Include:
- Knowledge and use of spelling patterns, morphology, orthography, and etymology
- Teaching students to be strategic in the ways they can solve words to spell accurately
- Assessment of children’s spelling skills, including error analysis and spelling surveys
- Ways to teach for and expand students’ spelling development
You’ll earn 5 clock hours for this training.
Heather Rodman, Literacy Coach 
Prior to joining the Center for Reading Recovery and Literacy Collaborative as a Primary Trainer, Heather was a Kindergarten, first, second, third, and fourth grade classroom teacher in Middletown, CT for 16 years. She was also a Primary Literacy Coordinator for five years where she provided literacy training and coaching to K-5 teachers. In addition, she was a member of the Connecticut Department of Education Common Core State Standards Curriculum Design Team for English Language Arts.
Required Materials (mailed to you as part of registration)
- The Comprehensive Phonics, Spelling, and Word Study Guide, Second Edition
Cancellation Deadline & Refund Policies
You have until one week before the first day of this offering to cancel your registration. The cancellation deadline is Thursday, October 16, 2025. There is a $50 cancellation fee. If you request a cancellation after the deadline, you will not be issued a refund. Substitution requests are acceptable. Please email CRRLC@lesley.edu if you have a cancellation or substitution request.
Registration Deadline
The registration portal closes at 5pm ET on October 22, 2025. If you register within the week before the start of this training, you may experience delays in receiving the required professional text included with your registration and you may incur additional fees for expedited shipping.
Requirements for Participation
After the training, you will receive a certificate of attendance for your participation. To receive a complete certificate, participation during the specified times is required. Additional work may be assigned to meet the clock hours.
In-Person or Virtual Attendance
You may choose to attend this training in-person at Lesley University or virtually in real time. Should any of the conditions change and it is determined the training will be offered virtually only, you will be notified as soon as possible. We recommend that you contact us before reserving travel and lodging.
If you choose to attend in-person, the training room will have Lesley University’s HyFlex Classroom Technology to support an engaging learning environment for in-person and virtual participants. If you have questions about in-person or virtual attendance, please email us at CRRLC@lesley.edu.
On-Site Professional Development
We can deliver this training to your school/district. This option can be delivered virtually or in-person for a group within your school/district. For detailed costs, complete our online form to request this training for your school/district and we will contact you.
Interested in professional learning at your school or district? Schedule a meeting with one of our faculty trainers
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