#85: What If Irregular Words Aren’t Irregular? Introducing Structured Word Inquiry for Elementary Teachers with Dr. Peter BowerS
Have you ever looked at the word “does” and thought: why on earth is it spelled like that?
I remember standing at the whiteboard, writing “does” for the third time that week, and one of my students—clever, curious, and always questioning—asked, “Why isn’t it spelled D-U-Z?”
And honestly? I didn’t have a good answer.
Like many teachers, I was taught to just tell kids: “That’s an irregular word. You just have to memorize it.”
But what if that word—and hundreds of others we label as “exceptions”—actually aren’t irregular at all?
In this mind-blowing episode of the podcast, Dr. Peter Bowers introduces us to a completely different way of thinking about English spelling—through Structured Word Inquiry (SWI).
This isn’t just for dyslexic learners or interventionists—it’s a lens that helps all students (and teachers!) finally make sense of tricky words by connecting spelling to meaning, not just sound.
What Is Structured Word Inquiry?
Structured Word Inquiry (SWI) is an approach that helps students uncover the logic behind English spelling—not by memorizing, but by investigating.
Rather than drilling flashcards or practicing “irregular words” over and over, SWI asks:
- What does this word mean?
- What’s the base or root?
- What are the prefixes and suffixes?
- And how do the spelling patterns reflect the word’s structure and meaning?
Here’s a jaw-dropping example from the episode:
- Take the word “really.”
- Dr. Bowers—a self-identified dyslexic and former “terrible speller”—used to get stuck on whether there were one or two L’s.
- Once he saw it as real + ly, he never forgot it again.
Why? Because he could now see the logic. It wasn’t a memory trick. It was understanding.
Words like does, maybe, there, and exorbitant follow this same principle. They aren’t broken—they’re meaningful.
How to Teach Irregular Words with Meaning: A Practical Starting Point
You don’t need to be an expert in morphology or etymology to get started with SWI. Just start shifting the questions you ask about words—and encourage your students to do the same.
Here are simple, effective strategies you can try tomorrow:
1. Ask “What’s the Base?” Instead of “Sound It Out”
When students stumble on a word like does, guide them to see the base “do” and the suffix “-es.”
That tiny shift invites curiosity and deepens understanding.
2. Compare Homophones With Purpose
Words like there, their, and they’re aren’t just confusing—they’re ripe for investigation.
Ask: What does each one mean? What spelling clues tell us which is which?
3. Use a Word Matrix or Word Sum
Dr. Bowers introduces tools like a matrix to break words into their building blocks.
Take “real” → really, surreal, realism, reality.
Seeing those connections cements both spelling and meaning.
4. Replace “Memorize It” With “Let’s Investigate It”
Turn spelling frustration into a moment of discovery.
When a student asks why “maybe” isn’t spelled like “baby,” invite them to explore: “It may be sunny” → maybe. That’s a compound word!
In This Episode, You’ll Discover:
- Why labeling words as “irregular” might be holding your students back
- How meaning—not just sound—is the key to spelling success
- What Structured Word Inquiry looks like in real classrooms
- Practical examples to help your students master tricky words like does, really, there, and maybe
- Why this approach supports dyslexic learners, English learners, and all students
Bringing It All Together
If your spelling lessons feel like a losing battle—or if your students constantly ask “Why is it spelled like that?”—Structured Word Inquiry might be the shift you’ve been searching for.
It’s not about abandoning phonics. It’s about integrating meaning, structure, and sound so students build real understanding.
The best part?
You don’t have to know all the answers. In fact, as Dr. Bowers shares, some of the most powerful lessons begin when we investigate words right alongside our students.
Want More Support? Join The Science of Reading Formula
If you’re ready to stop teaching “rules with exceptions” and start guiding students to discover the logic of English spelling, you’re in the right place.
Inside The Science of Reading Formula, you’ll find the tools, strategies, and support to implement Structured Word Inquiry and other science-backed methods in your classroom.
👉 Join The Science of Reading Formula and transform the way you teach spelling—forever.
Links
Beneath the Surface of Words by Sue Hegland
Become a Science of Reading Formula member!
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