Why do some words seem to break the rules? And how can we help students understand that English spelling is far more logical than it first appears?

In this session, we’ll explore the fascinating stories behind words that appear to be exceptions and show how etymology can transform confusion into curiosity. You’ll learn a practical framework for explaining why words are spelled as they are, giving students confidence that English orthography is organised, predictable and rich with meaning rather than random.

We’ll then build on that foundation by exploring word families as powerful tools for strengthening spelling, vocabulary and retrieval. You’ll learn how to group words according to morphology, orthographic conventions, syntax and meaning, using practical strategies such as word sums and matrices to reveal the relationships between words and deepen students’ understanding.

Packed with classroom examples and immediately applicable teaching strategies, this session will help you move beyond teaching isolated words and instead give your students a connected understanding of the English spelling system.