Effective Tier 1 Spelling Instruction in Primary School

Five from Five, Australia's leading initiative dedicated to ensuring every child learns to read, presents this online professional learning session on effective spelling instruction for primary school educators. Led by Dr. Alison Madelaine, an expert in evidence-based literacy instruction, this session addresses one of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of early literacy teaching: how to systematically and explicitly teach spelling within a structured literacy framework. The session focuses on Tier 1 spelling instruction—the core, whole-class teaching that all students receive—and explores how to make this instruction more effective, systematic, and aligned with what research tells us about how children learn to encode written language. Dr. Madelaine will guide participants through the evidence base for explicit spelling instruction, examining why traditional approaches such as rote memorisation of word lists and incidental spelling through writing alone are insufficient for many learners. Participants will learn practical strategies for teaching phoneme-grapheme correspondences, morphological awareness, and orthographic patterns in a sequenced, cumulative manner. The session also addresses how to integrate spelling instruction with reading and writing across the school day, how to assess spelling development effectively, and how to identify students who may need additional support beyond Tier 1 instruction. This professional learning opportunity is ideal for primary school teachers, literacy coordinators, and school leaders seeking to strengthen their school's approach to spelling within a comprehensive structured literacy program.