SMART Spelling

helps primary school teachers

to feel great about teaching spelling well

We do this through a course and a printed manual

SMART Spelling helps primary school teachers to feel great about teaching spelling well

We do this through a course and a printed manual

Hi! I'm Michelle Hutchison and I LOVE teaching spelling!

I developed SMART Spelling because it wasn't always this way...I was a frustrated primary teacher who didn't understand spelling well. In fact, I used to feel nervous about teaching spelling. I wanted to do better for my students. With many years of further study and research at Melbourne Uni, SMART Spelling was developed and released to everyone in 2015! It's now used (and loved) by thousands of teachers, all across Australia, who are thrilled with the depth of knowledge they and their students develop using the SMART approach. You'll love such a sensible way to teach spelling.

Yes...really!

The words 'love' and 'spelling' in the same sentence!

Let me show you a simple routine to teach spelling. There's a Foundation – 6 scope and sequence and a comprehensive 263 page coil bound manual, that has words broken up for you! We start by teaching the meaning of words to expand vocabulary and then break words into syllables, sounds and letter patterns (graphs, digraphs and trigraphs).

It just makes so much sense.

SMART Spelling incorporates both the systematic teaching of spelling each week and also personal words. We teach in patterns as much as possible, so teachers choose a range of words (from simple to complex) from a suggested list in the manual. Students are then guided to choose from that list, to meet different needs. Teachers use their strong professional knowledge they gain in the course to give meaningful feedback to students about their spelling in writing, teaching at the point of need.

It’s simple, easy and fun!

Teachers feel confident in their content knowledge and know that SMART Spelling fits into a busy classroom.

About the Course

The SMART Spelling course takes the equivalent of a whole school day to complete. It's full of practical content that covers what to actually do in your classroom. I'll show you how to deliver both explicit lessons and how to give meaningful feedback to students at the point of need, when they're writing. You’ll be really well supported by 48 pages of notes.

The online course has pre-recorded video so you can do it at any time that suits you. There are 14 lessons on video that take a whole school day (around 5 hours) to complete by the time you reflect or discuss after each video. You will have a month of access from the time of purchase. You can ask me questions by typing them under the videos in the course and I'll answer for you - as quickly as I can! You can also read other people's questions and my answers too!

About the Manual

The manual is a printed 263 page, coil bound resource. It contains a yearly scope and sequence from Foundation to Year 6 that I explain how to use in the course. There's a huge resource of spelling lists, with the words broken up for you!

You don't actually need a manual with you to do the course, just the 48 pages of notes that are a download in the login area, but you will need a manual to implement the SMART Spelling approach in a classroom. Postage is $15 per order and manuals are posted out ASAP by the next business day at the latest.

$255 per person

Online Package

This includes 2 things:

The online SMART Spelling course with the 48 pages of notes as a PDF
A 263 page coil bound SMART Spelling manual

Click to Order

$455 per person

Face-to-Face Package

This includes 4 things:

A face-to-face course presented in person by Michelle Hutchison at our venue
A 263 page coil bound SMART Spelling manual
Printed 48 page notes booklet
Morning tea and lunch ☕️ 🥪

Click for Dates

If you have enough manuals in your school, you can order just the course here.

If you've previously done the course, you can order a replacement manual here.

You have 2 payment options

You can use a credit card or you can get a tax invoice for your school to pay later by EFT.

A tax invoice will be emailed to you automatically after you order.

If you have a purchase order number from your school, enter it at checkout so it's included on the tax invoice.

All of our prices include GST.

Thinking About a Whole School Approach?

Whole School Information is Here

Where in the World is SMART Spelling?

Click here for a 10 minute intro AND a ‘sneak peek’ of the course!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have access to the online course?

One month from the time of purchase. We find that if you stretch it out any more than that, you'll forget bits! The course content is the equivalent of one school day. You can watch the course as many times as you like within your month of access. Of course, if anything unexpected happens and you don't get to finish the course we will happily extend it for you.

How long does it take to do the course?

It takes a whole school day, around 5 hours. The online course has a total of 3 hours of pre-recorded video content but it takes a whole school day to complete though, as you pause to do the activities, make notes, type in questions and read other people's questions and the answers too! Some schools choose to complete the online course over 2-3 after school sessions. You'll get a certificate emailed to you for 5 hours of professional learning.

I'd like a refresher. Is there a follow up course?

There sure is! Have a look the Follow Up Course.

What about Foundation classes?

You might be interested in The SMART Foundation Supplement. It's optional (and helpful) for teachers of children in their first year of school.

What's covered in the SMART Spelling course?

Video 1: Background

The 4 areas of spelling knowledge and what they mean for the classroom

Video 2: Letters and Sounds

Linking phonological knowledge to orthographic knowledge
How and when to explicitly teach

Video 3: The SMART Spelling Sequence

How to teach spelling using the SMART Sequence!

Video 4: Giving Meaningful Feedback in Writing

The 80/20 rule and where to place your teaching emphasis
The power of personalised 'BOB' spelling words - in the right dose!

Video 5: Classroom Implementation

The weekly spelling routine that is doable in a classroom

Video 6: The F - 6 Scope and Sequence

The 3 step method for teaching sounds and letters
The Foundation sequence (for the first year of school)
The Year 1 – 6 Scope and Sequence

Video 7: How Words Work: Letters

How words work: Letters
Making sense of split digraphs

Video 8: How Words Work: Sounds

A sustainable strategy to say unvoiced/voiced sounds correctly
How to deal with accents
How to pronounce the 24 consonant sounds of English
How to pronounce the 20 vowel sounds of English

Video 9: How Words Work: Syllables

Why syllables are helpful and when to use them
Teaching syllables using karate hands
How to use syllables dots

Video 10: How Words Work: x and u

Letters representing more than one sound

Video 11: Either End of the Curve

Revision of SMART using 'au' words
Student on modified programs
Two ways to enrich students who can already spell

Video 12: Spelling Study Activities

Colour coding
Spelling points
Spelling stickers
Spelling grid

Video 13: How Words Work: Spelling Rules

Why students need to know consonant suffixes and vowel suffixes
The 4 SMART Spelling Rules
Words sums

Video 14: Plurals

When teaching more than one
Follow up and thank you

Any other questions?

Please email Freddy He's always happy to help.

Who are some schools that have completed whole school training?

The lists are below! There are other schools who trained groups at different times but these are the ones that we know about who trained everyone together.

2023

Heritage College, Vic

Cowra PS, NSW

Mout Evelyn CS, Vic

Newcastle East PS, NSW

Dundurrabin PS, NSW

Buln Buln PS, Vic

St Anne's Seaford, Vic

Holy Name PS, Preston East, Vic

Leopold PS, Vic

Sassafras PS, Tas

Chewton PS, Vic

Hernani PS, NSW

Morissett PS, NSW

St Peter Julian Eymard, Vic

The Rock Central School, NSW

Middlemount Community School, Qld

St Kevin's Toorak, Vic

Whitehorse PS, Vic

Emmanuel Christian School, Tas

Ballarat Christian College, Vic

The Rock Central School, NSW

Belgrave Height PS, Vic

Heathcote PS, Vic

Al Siraat College, Vic

Queenscliff PS, Vic

St Joachim's Carrum Downs, Vic

2022

Willunga PS, SA

Rockbank PS, Vic

Murrumburrah PS, NSW

Bimbadeen Heights PS, Vic

Northholm Grammar, NSW

Strathcona Baptist School, Vic

Yelarbon State School, Qld

Forth Primary School, Tas

Rolling Hills PS, Vic

Bellaire PS, Vic

Preston West PS, Vic

St Peter's Epping, Vic

Holy Trinity Eltham North, Vic

Regency Park PS, Vic

St Colman's School, Qld

Howard Springs PS, NT

Kapooka PS, NSW

Cheder Levi Yitchok, Vic

Appin Park PS, Vic

Uranquinty PS, NSW

Hume Public School, NSW

Scared Heart Tocumal, NSW

Ormond PS, Vic

Oscar Romero Catholic PS, Vic

Ardlethan Central School, NSW

Altona Meadows PS, Vic

New Lambton PS, NSW

St Vincent's Morwell, Vic

St Kilda Park PS, Vic

Dora Creek PS, NSW

Badger Creek PS, Vic

Canterbury PS, Vic

Bayside College, Vic

Morriset PS, NSW

Oakleigh South PS, Vic

McKinnon PS, Vic

Wedderburn College, Vic

St Margaret's Grammar, Vic

Ballam Park PS, Vic

Bellbridge Primary School, Vic

Mary MacKillop Albury, NSW

Alphington PS, Vic

Leopold PS, Vic

Berkley Vale PS, NSW

Boroondara Park PS, Vic

Monbulk PS, Vic

Meadow Flat PS, NSW

Inverell PS, NSW

2021

Norris Bank PS, Vic

Mitchell Island PS, NSW

Duri PS, NSW

Ringwood North Primary School, Vic

St Roch's Glen Iris, Vic

Scoresby Primary School, Vic

Berlin Bilingual School, Germany

Cardiff Public School, NSW

Christian College, Geelong

Walcha Public School, NSW

Penrith Valley PS, NSW

Our Lady Help of Christians Brunswick, Vic

St Mary's Coptic College, Vic

Holy Trinity, Wantirna South, Vic

Glen Innes PS, NSW

Barcaldine State School, Qld

Greythorn PS, Vic

St Therese's Essendon, Vic

Ocean Grove PS, Vic

Port Melbourne PS, Vic

St Patrick's College, Prospect, Tas

Good Shepherd College, Hamilton

St Thomas the Apostle, Blackburn, Vic

St John's Frankston East, Vic

Canterbury Primary School, Vic

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Epping Vic

Harrisfield PS, Vic

EA Southee PS, NSW

Lumen Christi, Churchill, Vic

Devonport Christian School, Tas

Carlton South PS, NSW

Lucknow PS, Vic

Estella PS Wagga, NSW

Miandetta PS, Tas

St Mary's Myrtleford, Vic

Fennell Bay PS, NSW

Ashmont PS, NSW

Young North Public School, NSW

Penrith Public School, NSW

Busby Public School, NSW

Bonnells Bay PS, NSW

Watsonia North Primary School, Vic

Apollo Parkways Primary School, Vic

Harrisfield Primary School, Vic

Claremont Meadows Public School, NSW

Holy Cross New Gisborne, Vic

Channel Christian School, Tas

Watsonia Heights Primary School, Vic

Salt Ash Public School, NSW

Longwarry Primary School, Vic

Northlakes Public School, NSW

Bees Creek School, NT

St Bedes Balwyn North, Vic

Keelonith Primary School, Vic

Young Public School, NSW

Ulverstone Primary School, Tas

Tintern Grammar, Vic

Murgong Primary School, Vic

Scotch College, SA

Estella Public School, NSW

Guyra Public School, NSW

Kingswood College, Vic

St Joseph's Queenstown, Tas

Tingha Public School, NSW

Coal Point Public School, NSW

Trinity Catholic School Richmond, Vic

Sutton Public School, NSW

2020

Riverbend Primary School, Vic

Targo Public School, NSW

St Joseph's Murgon, QLD

St John's Lutheran, Jindera, NSW

The Cotton On Foundation, Uganda

Eastbourne Primary School, Vic

ISA Science Science City International School, China

Braidwood Public School, NSW

Oakleigh Grammar School, Vic

Hume Anglican Grammar, Vic

Sunshine Coast Grammar, QLD

Hannaford State School, QLD

Murchison Primary School, Vic

Gerogery Public School, NSW

Clapham Primary School SA

Tullibigeal Central School, NSW

Condamine State School, QLD

Cloverdale Primary School, WA

Dookie Primary School, Vic

St Mary's Yarram, Vic

Christian College Geelong, Waurn Ponds

East Loddon P-12 College, Vic

St Mary of the Cross McKillop Epping, Vic

St Peter's PS Epping, Vic

Frankston School, Hamilton, NEW ZEALAND

Pacific Valley Christian School, NSW

St Martin de Porres, Laverton, Vic

Jennings Public School, NSW

Coomera Anglican College, QLD

Penrith Public School, NSW

Holy Spirit School Lavington, NSW

Maimuru Public School, NSW

Kirrawee Public School, NSW

Hunter River Community school, NSW

Bellata Public School, NSW

St Peter's Coleambally, NSW

Ardmona Primary School, Vic

Shortland Public School, NSW

South Melbourne Park Primary School

Pearcedale Primary School, Vic

Broadmeadows Primary School, Vic

Tamworth West Public School, NSW

St James Brighton East Vic

St Joseph's Wagga Wagga, NSW

St Finbar's Brighton, Vic

Deepdene Primary School, Vic

Louth Public School, NSW

Seaford North Primary School, Vic

Sacred Heart Croydon, Vic

St Stephen's College, QLD

Holy Spirit Ringwood, Vic

Moree Public School, NSW

Cundletown Public School, NSW

Tyrrell College, Vic

Mackenzie State Primary School, QLD

Cootamundra Public School, NSW

Wee Waa Public School, NSW

Wanaaring Public School, NSW

Old Noarlunga Public School, NSW

Marymede Catholic College South Morang, Vic

Cohuna Public School, Vic

Abbotsford Public School, NSW

Narrabri West Public School, NSW

St James the Apostle, Hoppers Crossing, Vic

Merredin College, WA

Morwell Central Public School, Vic

Strathmerton Public School, Vic