michelle hutchison’s smart spelling...- smart is an acronym for the sequence teachers follow to...

Michelle Hutchison’s

SMART

Spelling

A sensible, systematic approach to spelling

- A teacher

- Master of Education (Melb Uni); Post Grad Dip Learning

Disabilities (Melb Uni); Grad Dip Special Ed (Melb Uni); Dip

Teach (Prim) (Monash)

- Extensive academic qualifications in the field of literacy,

dyslexia and learning difficulties

Who is Michelle Hutchison?

- An approach designed to support teachers in the explicit and systematic teaching

of spelling.

- Spelling is taught through spelling patterns and regularity.

- It is based around whole words with an emphasis on meaning and vocabulary

development.

- Spelling rules are taught in the context of words in a way that builds on learning

from prior years. There are only 4!

- SMART is an acronym for the sequence teachers follow to teach words to students

(Say, Meaning, Analyse, Remember, Teach).

What is SMART Spelling?

S M A R T

- One of the key areas of knowledge students need to

develop to become independent spellers.

- It is mainly to do with sounds. It includes breaking words

into syllables and individual sounds (phonemes).

Phonological Knowledge

Vowel phonemes (sounds)

Consonant phonemes (sounds)

What sound does ‘y’ make?

yacht pony

fly

- One of the key areas of knowledge students need to

develop to become independent spellers

- It is mainly to do with letters. It is a visual skill that involves

choosing the correct letters that make a sound in a word.

Orthographical Knowledge

mijn

Orthographical Knowledge

meisje waar

- SMART Spelling also covers etymological knowledge and

morphemic knowledge.

Etymological & Morphemic Knowledge

Latin

Tri – means three

English

ic – relating to

- Brainstorming Approach: students who knew a lot of words

volunteer words they already know.

- Go Away and Teach Yourself Approach: all students have

their own personal words, impossible to explicitly teach!

- Phonics Approach: phonics is indisputable and essential,

but doing a sound a week and looking at all spelling options

(baby, tape, snail, tray) can get very confusing!

Other Methods

Phonics – a sound each week

Monday: explicit lesson of 20 minutes, students select their

own words (6 words minimum)

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday: word study for around 10

minutes duration

Friday: test spelling words and dictation

What does it look like in the classroom?

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday

Spelling Test & Dictation

https://www.michellehutchison.com.au/p/smart-foundation

SMART Spelling Foundation

Weekly Spelling Example

- Teacher explicitly teaches the red words.

- The teacher does the ‘Say’ & ‘Meaning’

steps for the orange and green words.

- All students are exposed to all words.

SMART Sequence – Red Words

ai m

p ai n

m ai l

n ai l

f ai l

s n ai l

Routines / Procedures

- Weekly Spelling Sheet will go home on Mondays. Students

highlight their chosen words before it goes home.

- Students copy their words into their Spelling Books – this

stays at school so there is a copy of the words at home, and

a copy at school!

- Daily spelling practise at school and home.

Home Practise

- Supports and reinforces what is

happening at school.

Feedback vs correction

- Students require feedback but they don’t need their

writing over-corrected to a point that it’s meaningless or

upsetting to them.

- We want our students to be risk takers.

u

Thank you!

Liss Lothian – Grade 2/3 Classroom Teacher

lothian.liss.a@edumail.vic.gov.au