#109: Why Good Readers Still Struggle with Spelling And How to Fix It with Joanne Rudling
I Thought She Was a Great Reader—So Why Couldn’t She Spell “Said”?
Back when I was teaching full time, I had a student who could breeze through any decodable book I handed her. Her fluency was strong. She understood what she read. She loved books. But every time she wrote the word said, it came out S-E-D.
At the time, I remember thinking, How is this possible? She’s such a strong reader—shouldn’t spelling come naturally too?
If you’ve ever thought something similar, you’re not alone. In fact, you’ve likely stumbled upon one of the biggest myths in literacy instruction:
Reading and spelling are not the same skill.
In this episode of the podcast, spelling expert Joanne Rudling explains why even high-achieving readers can fall behind in spelling and what educators can do to support them with confidence. This is the kind of practical, mindset-shifting conversation I wish I had years ago.
The 5 Surprising Foundations of English Spelling
Joanne offers a powerful framework for understanding and teaching spelling—especially the parts that feel random or hard to explain. She calls them the five foundational blocks, and together they help teachers and students make sense of English spelling.
Here’s a breakdown of what they are:
- History & Word Origins
Over 60% of English words contain silent letters. Most of those letters used to be pronounced, and many come from Old Norse, French, and Latin. Explaining where a word came from gives students a logical way to understand weird spellings—like the k in knee or the gh in light. - Spelling Rules That Actually Help
Joanne highlights rules that make a difference—like why we double consonants (hopping vs. hoping) or when to use ck instead of k. These patterns aren’t random—they’re there to signal sound, syllable stress, or word meaning. - Prefixes, Suffixes, and Word Parts
Morphology matters. Teaching students to build and break down words like unlocking or unhappily helps them approach long or unfamiliar words with confidence. - Common Letter Patterns & Word Roots
Spelling fluency grows when students recognize patterns like -ight, -tion, or -ough. Layering in Latin and Greek roots for older students (like struct, tele, or graph) gives them even more tools to decode and spell. - Phonics, Sounds & Meaning
Yes—sound still matters. Early spelling is often phonetic (think sed for said), and that’s developmentally appropriate. But over time, we need to move students from sound-only strategies to pattern and meaning-based ones.
So What Can I Do in My Classroom (or Small Group)?
You don’t need a new curriculum to start using these strategies. Joanne shares several small shifts that make a big difference:
- Explain the “why” behind spellings whenever possible
- Introduce one foundational block at a time—don’t overwhelm
- Use drawing or “word art” to help kids visually remember tricky spellings
- Celebrate mistakes—they’re not failures, they’re feedback
- Let students try multiple times; it can take 7–10 exposures to anchor a new spelling
“When teachers feel confident explaining spelling, kids stop fearing it—and start enjoying the challenge.” —Joanne Rudling
In This Episode, You’ll Discover:
- Why reading well doesn’t guarantee strong spelling
- The 5 foundational spelling blocks every teacher should know
- A new way to explain “tricky” words like said and knight
- How to turn spelling mistakes into teachable moments
- A flexible weekly spelling routine grounded in science
Bringing It All Together
Spelling doesn’t have to feel random, outdated, or frustrating. Once you understand how it works—where words come from, why certain letters are silent, and what rules help—you can teach it in a way that’s clear, supportive, and even fun.
Your students don’t need more word lists to memorize. They need a teacher who can explain spelling in a way that sticks. And thanks to this conversation, that teacher is you.
Want More Support? Join The Science of Reading Formula
If you’re ready to go deeper and get step-by-step support, join us inside The Science of Reading Formula. You’ll get practical tools, ready-to-use printables, and training that helps you implement what works—without overwhelm.
LINKS
Joanne’s Spelling Rules Books on Amazon
Become a Science of Reading Formula member!
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