Please contact me for scheduling.  dallandandrea@gmail.com 

 What is Strucutured Word Inquiry?

 Structured Word Inquiry: 

• is not a curriculum or a program, but an approach to studying English literacy
• developed from the field of linguistics rather than education, hence it is very different from most spelling programs
• operates on the premise that the English spelling system is highly ordered and logical
• treats spelling as a science that can be studied through questioning, hypothesizing, experimentation and  conclusion
• offers explanations for how every word is spelled rather than labeling them as "tricky," "irregular" or "rule-breaking"
• teaches spelling as an intersection of phonology (sounds), morphology (the parts used to build words; prefixes, bases and suffixes) and etymology (word history and origin)
• is not a phonics-based approach (though I do believe a background in basic phonics is very important for readers and spellers. Ideally, your learner will have had some phonics instruction in the past)

  In working with your learner I will:

• determine what they already know about spelling, sounds and letters to individualize my instruction
• move them away from learning to spell words by "sounding them out"
• move them away from reliance on syllables, which hold no meaning and are often in dispute (does <family> have two syllables or three? What about <different?>  How these words are typically pronounced in everyday use is not a direct match to how they are spelled and can result in confusion)
• move them away from seeing spelling as a letter-by-letter system and towards seeing it as a system of graphemes (teams of letters) and morphemes (prefixes, bases, suffixes)
• teach them the underlying system and order of English spelling, enabling them to identify patterns
• exponentially increase their vocabulary by learning about bases and roots, quickly multiplying the number of words they will be able to decode, spell and understand
• remove the need to memorize spelling "rules" and their lists of exceptions
• remove the need to rely on visual memory (very difficult for learners with dyslexia!)
• help them understand that every word is spelled the way it is for a reason and that every letter has a job
• provide structured support and feedback and send periodic updates on progress to parents

      As SWI is an approach that is quite new for most learners, and as it is too complex to be summarized or thoroughly understood quickly, I recommend planning to commit to this approach for several months at least, though of course I am very happy to meet with your learner for a session or two at first to determine if we are good fit for working together. 

 Please do not hesitate to contact me if you should have further questions for me about SWI, or my availability. dallandandrea@gmail.com 

Structured Word Inquiry is an excellent strategy for learners with dyslexia as it removes the need to guess at a spelling, memorize lists of rules or rely on visual memory. Students study words in in the context of their word families; those words with whom they share a common base and therefore connections in spelling and meaning. Rather than being taught "tips and tricks" that overload working memory, students are taught to analyze words and that spelling is a system of logic and order.