Sacha Wind Literacy Specialist

English spelling is not “tricky” - and teachers who say that are doing a disservice to the student. It is in fact, a highly logical and very well thought out system.
Using word sums and applying spelling rules, will make it make sense.
Once we understand the reasons behind the spelling, we no longer have to hold the memorized shape of the word in our brains, and can apply the reasoning to similar words too.

If you’re neurotypical, don’t lose hope.

Juneteenth! Today we celebrate a powerful moment in US history. This is a chance to learn, reflect, and celebrate freedom. I’m sharing some great books for kids to help start the conversation.

Is your child crossing the midline with ease? This simple movement is more than just coordination, it’s key for reading readiness and brain development. Incorporating fun, playful activities like skipping, crawling, pat-a-cake, and crazy eights helps build strong connections between both sides of the brain. These brain gym exercises support focus, learning, and literacy. And the best part? You can do them at home every day. Let’s build strong readers through movement.

How do you teach the /j/ sound, when it isn’t spelled with the letter J?

It’s so important that we are transparent in teaching that certain consonants can make more than one sound. Kids learn to trust themselves and trust that spelling makes sense, when they are taught that these letters can and do make more than one sound, and that there is a logical reason behind each spelling choice.

Nobody talks about this, but…The reason a lot of kids struggle with in person tutoring is because it’s boring! The prefrontal cortex which handles focus and working memory, checks out when we’re bored. The fun stuff isn’t just fluff, it’s science! When a kid laughs at an animated gif, feels challenged at a literacy game, or lights up at a win, their brain floods with dopamine, locking in learning and building new neural pathways.

Sometimes literacy isn’t just about reading and spelling. It’s about feeling safe, supported, and empowered to learn. An authentic connection and trust are two of the most important things to have in a teacher student relationship.

Let's investigate the word "biology". When we know what the word parts mean, it opens up whole world of of understanding for other words that contain the same word parts!

How many words can you make out of this word matrix?
Write your answer in the comments.👇