Dear Parents and Carers,

Why is spelling important?

We have spell-checkers on our computers, so why is it important that our children learn to spell? Is it important our kids learn the spelling rules we learned at school? Remember? "When two vowels go out walking, the first one does the talking."

Spelling is a complex skill and an important part of writing. Good spelling is also a social expectation and contributes to clear communication of a written message. Spelling requires students to draw on a range of knowledge about the English language. This knowledge includes:

• phonological knowledge - knowledge of the sound structure of language
• orthographical knowledge - knowledge of the system of written symbols used to represent spoken language
• morphemic knowledge - knowledge of the smallest parts of words that carry meaning
• etymological knowledge - knowledge of the origins of words

Teaching spelling at St Clare of Assisi

One of our key goals for the teaching of spelling is to support students to develop the knowledges required (see above) as well as flexible and efficient strategies that they can draw upon when learning to spell unfamiliar words. While most students will develop some strategies for themselves, these are often not sufficient to meet all their spelling needs.

Our role as teachers is to extend the repertoire of strategies students have at their disposal. At St Clare of Assisi, we use the Sounds Write program from K-2. This program focuses on the four key concepts children need to learn; letters are symbols that represent sounds, sounds can be spelled using 1, 2, 3 or 4 letters, the same sound can be spelled in different ways and the same spelling can represent different sounds.

In years 3 to 6 we use the SMART Spelling program. SMART Spelling incorporates both the systematic teaching of spelling each week and also personal words. Teachers teach in patterns as much as possible, so teachers choose a range of words (from simple to complex) from a suggested list. Students are then guided to choose from that list, to meet different needs. SMART Spelling allows teachers to give meaningful feedback to students about their spelling in writing, teaching at the point of need.

Across the different stages of primary school, K-2, 3-4 and 5-6, teaching emphasis will change according to the students’ stages of spelling development and spelling needs. In the early years, K-2, there is generally a focus on teaching phonic knowledge and visual strategies as this is what young writers try to use as they invent spelling at this stage. As students move through the middle and upper levels of primary school, the focus changes to the teaching and exploration of morphemic and etymological knowledge. This said, attention can be given to all the types of knowledge and the teaching of high frequency words, at each stage, depending on students’ needs.

Helping with Spelling at Home

There are many things you can do to at home to help your child with their spelling, but one of the most beneficial things is to instill in them a love of words. Talk to them about different words that you come across in your day to day lives. Help them find WOW words in their reading and writing and explore those words further by discussing their spelling and origin. Explain to them the importance of words and the importance of knowing how to spell. By doing these simple things you are encouraging them to focus on words and their spelling.

God bless.

Rachel Smith

Principal (Acting)

Principal’s Notes

Family Week

Time certainly has flown this year. Next week is Week 7 of term. During this week, we try to minimise after school commitments for staff and students to allow everyone to reconnect and focus more on their families. That also means we do not set homework for the week. I encourage everyone to take at least one-night next week to gather as a family, with no distractions, and simply enjoy each other’s company. Quiet time with the family is such a blessing in this busy world.

Term Two Starting Date – Wednesday 27^th April

Monday 25^th April is ANZAC Day and a public holiday. Tuesday 26^th April is a pupil free day in all Catholic Primary Schools in Canberra. Teachers will be continuing their work with the Catalyst program that we began last year. All students will return to school on Wednesday 27^th April.

Bowral

I will be away for most of this week for meetings/retreat with my Principal Colleagues. I will be away from school from Wednesday morning for the rest of the week. On Wednesday staff from Catholic Education will be facilitating professional learning for the 65 Principals of our Archdiocese. On Thursday and Friday, we will be having a retreat led by Archbishop Christopher Prowse. I feel very blessed to have this opportunity for prayer and reflection during the season of Lent.

Dates for 2022