How Elementary Teachers Can Teach Spelling Using Phonics and the Science of Reading

This is Part 1 of a Blog Series on Teaching Spelling with Confidence (Grades 1–4)

In this blog, I’m sharing one effective, teacher-friendly way to teach spelling using predictable routines and Science of Reading-aligned practices, especially for teachers who are not yet using sound wall in their classrooms. If that’s you, you’re in the right place

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a classroom teacher, it’s this: spelling instruction works best when it’s simple, intentional, and grounded in how the brain learns to read.

Over the years, I’ve seen and tried many different approaches to teaching spelling. Sometomes in my classroom I relied on weekly word lists. Sometimes my focus was heavily on memorization.I even integrated spelling into writing workshops. And while each approach comes from good intentions, not all of them support students in building strong decoding, encoding, and writing skills, especially our struggling readers.

As teachers, we’re all working toward the same goal:

👉 helping students read, spell, and write with confidence.

That’s where the Science of Reading comes in.

Why Spelling Instruction Matters (Especially in Grades 1–4)

Spelling is not just about writing words correctly. It’s about:

• Connecting sounds to letters

• Understanding phonics patterns

• Strengthening orthographic mapping

• Supporting reading fluency and comprehension

  
  

When students learn spelling through explicit phonics instruction, they aren’t just memorizing words, they’re learning how English works.

This is especially important when teaching:

• Short vowels

• Long vowels & silent e

• Vowel teams

• R-controlled vowels

• Blends and digraphs

• The Floss Rule

  
  

It stick through predictable routines, repeated exposure, and multisensory practice.

Different Teachers, Different Approaches (And That’s Okay!)

In general education classrooms, teachers use many approaches to spelling just like I used in the past:

• Some teach spelling through word study

• Some integrate it into writing time

• Some follow a program or scope and sequence

• Some are just beginning their Science of Reading journey

  
  

But here’s the truth:

Effective spelling instruction doesn’t have to be complicated. What matters most is that it is:

• Skill-based

• Explicit

• Consistent

• Easy to implement

  
  

One Simple Way to Teach Spelling (Without Overwhelm)

From my experience, students thrive when spelling instruction:

• Focuses on one skill at a time

• Uses predictable routines

• Connects reading, spelling, and writing together

  
  

That’s exactly why I used a 4-step routine in my classroom before moving to active soundwall.

A Predictable 4-Step Spelling Routine That Works

Each spelling skill follows the same simple structure, so students know exactly what to do every time.

1. Read & Write

Students read the words and write them to build visual and auditory recognition of the spelling pattern.

Read and Write

2. Say – Tap – Map – Write

This is where the magic happens ✨Students:

• Say the word

• Tap the sounds

• Map phonemes to graphemes

• Write the word

This multisensory step strengthens phonemic awareness and encoding skills.

Say Tap map Write

3. Word Sort

Students sort words by:

• Sound

• Spelling pattern

• Feature

This builds orthographic awareness and helps students notice how patterns work across words.

Word Sort

4. Write a Sentence

Students apply the words in context, supporting:

• Writing development

• Meaningful application

Sentence Writing

Essential Skills:

• Short vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

• Long vowels with silent e (a_e, i_e, o_e, u_e)

• Vowel teams

  • ai, ay, ee, ea, oa, ow, ew, oo, ui, igh, ie

• R-controlled vowels

  • ar, or, er, ir, ur, air, are, oar

• Floss Rule (ff, ll, ss, zz)

• S-blends, R-blends, L-blends

• Digraphs and trigraphs

  • ch, sh, th, wh, ph, kn, wr, -dge, -tch

Teaching these skills explicitly and systematically makes a huge difference , especially for students who need extra support

Spellings Practice Mega Bundle

Making Spelling Easy for Teachers (and Students)

As teachers, we don’t need more complicated systems. We need tools that:

• Save time

• Reduce planning stress

• Align with structured literacy

• Actually, work in real classrooms

  
  

That’s why I created an all-in-one Science of Reading-aligned Phonics & Spelling Bundle that includes every major phonics skill from K–4.

Each unit:

• Focuses on one specific skill

• Uses the same predictable 4-step routine

• Requires no prep — just print and teach

Perfect for Real Classrooms

Teachers use these spelling resources for:

• Small-group instruction

• Literacy centers

• Intervention and Tier 2 support

• Independent work

• Homework

• Extra practice for struggling readers

Spellings Practice Mega Bundle

It works whether you’re:

• New to the Science of Reading

• Transitioning away from memorization-based spelling

• Not quite ready to implement a full sound wall yet

Spellings Practice Mega Bundle

Looking for Separate Skills?

Spellings Practice: R Controlled Vowel

Spellings Practice: Vowel Team

Spellings Practice: R Blends

Spellings Practice: Digraph

Spellings Practice: L Blends

Spellings Practice: Floss Rule

Spellings Practice: Vowel

Spellings Practice: Silent e

Spellings Practice: S Blends

Final Thoughts from One Teacher to Another

Teaching spelling doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.

When we:

• Keep it simple

• Teach one skill at a time

• Use predictable routines

• Connect sounds, spelling, and writing

  
  

We give students exactly what they need to become confident readers and writers.

And as teachers, that’s always the goal 💛

If you’re looking for ready-to-use spelling tools that support structured literacy and make your life easier, this approach might be exactly what you need.

P.S. What’s Coming Next in This Blog Series 👀

In this post, I shared how spelling can be taught using simple, skill-based routines that feel manageable for both teachers and students.

But for many of us, the real question is: How do we turn spelling into a clear, year-long system and not just a weekly routine?

That’s where the sound wall comes in.

In the next blog, I’ll be introducing a complete spelling system built around the sound wall, designed to support spelling instruction across the entire school year.

We’ll explore:

• How a sound wall becomes the anchor for spelling, decoding, and writing

• How phoneme grapheme mapping guides word selection and instruction

• How students use spelling words as part of a growing phoneme dictionary, not a memorized list

• How predictable routines reduce planning while increasing student independence

  
  

I’ll also be sharing a Year-Long Spelling Bundle created specifically for Grades 1–4 classrooms, where everything works together as one system.

This sound wall–based spelling system will include:

✔ Year-long spelling word lists connected directly to the sound wall

✔ A student-friendly phoneme dictionary that grows with instruction

✔ Spelling choice boards for flexible, meaningful practice

✔ Explicit guidance on what to teach, when to teach it, and how to teach it (What Curriculum I personally use :))

✔ All major phonics skills: vowels, vowel teams, silent e, r-controlled vowels, blends, digraphs, and the Floss Rule

Instead of pulling spelling materials from “here and there,” this system offers:

👉 One sound wall–aligned approach

👉 One consistent routine students can rely on

👉 One clear plan that supports reading, spelling, and writing together

Stay tuned for the next blog, where I’ll walk you through how this sound wall- based spelling system works and how you can confidently use this year-long spelling resource in your classroom, step by step.

Love

Anju