September 2025
Spelling Instruction
Last month (August 2025), we introduced the Writing Rope as a model of the many skills woven together to create proficient writers. This month, the focus is on the essential transcription skill of spelling.
Louisa Moats reminds educators that "spelling is a visible record of language processing; it is language written down." Because of this, spelling cannot be left to chance. It must be explicitly taught in a systematic way.
Spelling and Encoding: Standard 2
Effective spelling instruction aligns with Standard 2, which emphasizes:
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Spelling and encoding words
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Spelling and encoding syllable types
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Spelling and encoding using structural analysis
To meet this standard, effective spelling instruction develops in three areas:
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Phonemic (sound-based): Building the connection between spoken sounds and the letters that represent them.
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Orthographic (pattern-based): Recognizing and applying common spelling patterns, syllable types, and rules.
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Morphographic (meaning-based): Using knowledge of prefixes, suffixes, roots, and word parts to spell and understand new words.
Best Practices for Effective Spelling Instruction
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Build a solid foundation in letter formation and sound recall.
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Provide frequent, distributed practice (15–30 minutes daily or 30 minutes three times per week).
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Always connect spelling instruction to reading and writing tasks so students transfer spelling skills and apply them purposefully.
Strong spelling instruction not only supports accurate writing but also deepens students’ understanding of how language works and improves reading skills. Better spellers are better readers and writers.
For more information on the skills needed to teach spelling for your grade level, visit the Literacy Progression for Spelling and Encoding and the Literacy Progression for Word Parts.
Want to learn more about spelling instruction?
Watch this one-hour webinar for strategies and classroom examples to strengthen your spelling instruction and support your students’ growth as writers.
Grades K-2:
Sound-Symbol Mapping: Early spellers benefit from explicit phoneme (sounds)-grapheme (letters) instruction. Mapping words helps to store them into long-term memory for both reading and writing.
- Use sound boxes or a word mapping chart.
- Say a word aloud (e.g., sheep)
- Students segment the word into sounds (/sh/ /ee/ /p/), then write the letters in the boxes.
- Students then read and spell the word aloud to reinforce the sound-symbol connection.
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Grades 3-5
For older students, instruction goes beyond sound-symbol relationships. Students in upper elementary need instruction in morphology or the meaningful parts of words. Research shows that understanding prefixes, suffixes, and roots improves spelling, vocabulary and reading comprehension (Carlisle, 2010).
Word Matrix: A word matrix is a graphic organizer that helps students generate and spell words by combining bases (roots) with prefixes and suffixes. A matrix shows how morphemes carry meaning and spelling patterns, reinforcing both decoding and encoding. Students learn that spelling is systematic, not just memorization.
- Choose a base word (e.g., rupt= to break).
- Create a matrix with possible prefixes and suffixes.
- Students combine word parts to build real words (e.g., erupt, erupting, interrupts).
- Students write sentences with the words to apply meaning.
Want to learn more about these strategies?
Watch this one-hour webinar.
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In the ELA Framework Quick Links section, you’ll find a variety of helpful resources designed to support ELA educators.
One such resource is the Professional Learning Vault. It provides access to presentations and webinars delivered across Oklahoma by the ELA Project Managers in the Office of Standards and Learning. Explore these resources for more information on ELA practices.
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 The Office of Standards and Learning at the Oklahoma State Department of Education is offering free professional development opportunities for the 2025-2026 school year. These workshops will be held in various regions across the state and will focus on instructional strategies aligned with the Oklahoma Academic Standards in different subject areas.
The Power of a Sentence: Building Skilled Writers in the Elementary Classroom: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Unlock the power of strong sentences! This interactive session focuses on sentence-level instruction designed to boost students' writing fluency and confidence. Explore practical strategies for sentence generation, expansion, and combination, and leave with hands-on activities you can immediately use in your elementary classroom to help young writers build skill and stamina.
Register here for the Elementary English Language Arts session:
To find sessions in other subject areas, please visit this link.
 2025-2026 Ed Chat Sessions
4:00 PM Registration: https://bit.ly/472BSpB
7:00 PM Registration: https://bit.ly/4lUjzYw
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When: The first Tuesday of each month at 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM.
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Where: Via Zoom
You only need to register once to attend all sessions.
Upcoming Sessions:
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September 2, 2025: Artificial Intelligence
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October 7, 2025: Fine Arts Integration
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November 4, 2025: Movement in the Classroom
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December 2, 2025: Gifted Education
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January 6, 2026: Computer Science and Math
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February 3, 2026: World Languages
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March 3, 2026: Building Background Knowledge with Social Studies and ELA
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April 7, 2025: Science Education
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May 5, 2025: Avoiding the Summer Slump with Family Engagement
Past Sessions:
If you are unable to attend a session, recordings will be available to view at this .
This summer (2025), the Office of Standards and Learning's content specialists hosted a series of Lunch and Learn webinars to help teachers gear up for a new school year.
All sessions are now available on YouTube for on-demand viewing. Explore the full playlist and choose the topics that interest you most.
 The OKCTE Fall conference will be held on Friday, October 24, 2025, at MetroTech Springlake Campus in Oklahoma City. The conference will run from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Keynote Speaker: Kristin Ziemke, co-author of Read the World: Rethinking Literacy for Empathy and Action in a Digital Ag
Register and view Break-out Sessions here.
Registration deadline is October 1, 2025.
Imagine Reading Bundle
The Imagine Reading Bundle offers free site licenses to qualifying districts (limited to 100 licenses) for students in kindergarten, first, second, and third grades and students who are not reading at grade level in grades 4-6. Additional licenses needed for 7-12 grade are available for purchase at a discount. Unlimited professional learning is available at NO COST to qualifying districts.
Imagine Language & Literacy supports Oklahoma’s Academic Standards for English Language Arts through personalized instruction that accelerates reading and language proficiency. Imagine Language & Literacy is a supplemental, adaptive online curriculum that provides targeted instruction in all four domains of literacy, reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Its flexibility makes it suitable for any instructional setting, from whole-class to small-group to one-on-one.
Seuss Corner is a dynamic digital library featuring 30+ beloved Dr. Seuss eBooks and exclusive printable resources designed to make literacy learning fun and effective. Perfect for classrooms or at-home reading, it supports foundational skills, vocabulary growth, and comprehension through engaging stories and themed activities. With curriculum-aligned content, differentiated learning tools, and mobile-friendly access, Seuss Corner helps students of all levels explore reading across subjects, from science and math to character development.
School/District Application: APPLY HERE to bring the Imagine Reading Bundle to your students.
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Dewey Elementary in Dewey, Oklahoma, is building a strong culture of reading. For the past five years, librarian Darcy Swanson has led the way in fostering a love of books. To help create a true community of readers, both staff and students share “shelfies," photos highlighting some of their favorite reads. Dewey students are fortunate to learn in a school where reading is celebrated and embraced by everyone.
Let's Share! What's Working Well with Students?
Each month, our newsletter will highlight an English Language Arts teaching tip or strategy from one of our state’s educators. Teachers have a wealth of innovative ideas, and we all benefit from collaboration and sharing.
Share your own idea or nominate a colleague who has done something outstanding in ELA, please email Christie Barris at christie.barris@sde.ok.gov with your submission, including:
- Your Name
- School District
- ELA Skills Addressed
- Grade Level
- Description of the Tip or Strategy
Feel free to include pictures as well! Let’s inspire one another and create engaging classrooms that foster a love for reading and writing. Thank you for being a valued member of the ELA community!
Image attribution:
Sound Boxes
Spelling Matrix
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