Category: Word study/Vocabulary

Great App to Teach Spelling

A 2023 SHRM (a human resources group) survey found that 52% of HR professionals say spelling errors in applications lowered candidate appeal. A 2024 Journal of Educational Psychology study showed that students with strong spelling and writing skills were 25% more likely to secure college scholarships. One more: A 2019 NAEP writing assessment found only 27% of 8th graders scored proficient or above, unchanged from 2011. 
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Too often, students think spelling is solved by the red squiggly lines that alerts writers to misspellings, but those can be wrong. The only real solution is students learn to spell organically, starting early in their education career and continuing throughout. Here’s one good tool to make that happen:

Spelling Force by EdAlive:

A Smart Solution for Mastering Spelling

Spelling Force, developed by Australian edtech company EdAlive, is a powerful and engaging platform designed to boost spelling proficiency in children through interactive learning, intelligent adaptation, and curriculum alignment. With a proven track record in classrooms across Australia and beyond, Spelling Force is a valued resource for teachers, students, and parents alike.

What is Spelling Force?

Spelling Force is an online spelling program designed for students from Year 1 to Year 10, although it is most commonly used in primary and lower secondary classrooms. It combines dynamic learning activities with a powerful adaptive learning engine that tailors content to each student’s individual needs. Students work through interactive spelling exercises, games, and quizzes that are designed not just for repetition, but for true understanding and mastery.

Unlike many spelling tools that simply drill lists of words, Spelling Force offers a much richer and more strategic approach. It identifies each student’s weaknesses and presents targeted exercises to improve their skills, building confidence and competence along the way.

Intelligent Automated Learning

One of the standout features of Spelling Force is its Automated Learning system which combines a powerful adaptive learning system that levels students with a mastery learning system that presents spelling appropriate to the level of each student from its bank of over 12,500 sequenced words. The system tracks student performance in real-time and adjusts the difficulty and content to match the learner’s pace and progress. If a student struggles with certain phonetic patterns, tricky letter combinations, or irregular spellings, Spelling Force  will present lists of similar words and cycle words until the student demonstrates mastery. Additionally, Spelling Force has inbuilt spelling lists that teachers can select to address the identified weakness.

This Automated approach makes Spelling Force suitable for students of all ability levels. Whether a student is ahead of the curve and needs challenging words, or is struggling with foundational spelling patterns, the program delivers relevant content to meet them where they are.

EdAlive has many years of experience in the creation of adaptive learning and mastery learning systems with this technology being featured in Baggin the Dragon Maths, Math Invaders, Words Rock and Volcanic Panic Reading Success. Typing Tournament also features a mastery learning system. This is the first time that EdAlive as combined both technologies into the one learning tool.

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Curriculum Alignment

For educators, one of the key strengths of Spelling Force is its close alignment with the curriculum, particularly in English and literacy strands. The program covers a broad range of spelling rules, word families, and vocabulary lists that reflect classroom learning outcomes. Teachers can be confident that the words and skills being reinforced in Spelling Force are not only educationally sound but also directly tied to what students are expected to learn.

In addition, Spelling Force supports both NAPLAN preparation and general classroom instruction. Its design encourages the development of transferable spelling strategies that help students in written tasks across subjects.

A Motivational and Game-Based Approach

Students are far more likely to engage with learning when it’s enjoyable, and Spelling Force recognises this through its game-based design. The program integrates mini-games and animated challenges that reward effort and progress, motivating students to keep improving. These gamified elements create a positive feedback loop, where learning becomes not just productive but fun.

Progress tracking is another major motivator. Students can see their growth over time, unlocking achievements and earning certificates as they go. This visibility empowers students to take ownership of their learning and helps to build a sense of accomplishment.

Teacher and Parent Tools

For teachers, Spelling Force includes a comprehensive suite of tools to manage classes, set tasks, and review results. Teachers can assign specific spelling lists, track individual student progress, and generate detailed reports on strengths and weaknesses. This data-driven insight supports differentiated instruction and allows for timely interventions when needed.

Parents can also take an active role in their child’s spelling journey. With home access options available, families can reinforce classroom learning at home, encouraging consistent practice and engagement.

Broad Word Coverage

The breadth of vocabulary in Spelling Force is extensive. It includes high-frequency words, irregular spellings, homophones, prefixes and suffixes, and words that are often seen in standardised testing such as NAPLAN. This expansive database ensures that students are exposed to a wide variety of words, enhancing not only their spelling but also their overall vocabulary and written expression.

Words are presented in context-rich sentences and activities that reinforce meaning and usage—not just rote memorisation. This ensures that spelling learning is meaningful and connected to broader literacy development.

Custom Word Lists

One of the most powerful features for classroom use is the ability to create and upload custom word lists. Teachers can design lists based on weekly spelling homework, specific topics being studied in class, or areas where students need additional support. This customisability makes Spelling Force an incredibly flexible tool that can adapt to any teaching style or curriculum requirement.

Accessibility and Usability

Spelling Force is web-based and compatible with most modern devices, including laptops, desktops, and tablets. This accessibility makes it suitable for both in-school and at-home learning. Its user-friendly interface is intuitive for young learners and doesn’t require significant tech skills to navigate, ensuring that students can focus on learning rather than navigating complex menus.

Data Security and Student Safety

EdAlive takes privacy and data security seriously. The company complies with strict standards to protect student information, which is especially important in the education sector. Schools can trust that their students’ data is handled responsibly and in line with Australian privacy regulations.

Continuous Updates and Support

EdAlive regularly updates Spelling Force to improve performance, introduce new features, and respond to feedback from teachers and schools. Its Australian-based support team is available to assist with onboarding, troubleshooting, and technical questions, making the implementation process smooth for schools of all sizes.

A Valuable Investment in Literacy

With literacy being a cornerstone of academic success, tools like Spelling Force offer schools and families an effective way to reinforce one of the most essential skills. Whether used as a supplementary tool for literacy programs or as a primary resource for spelling instruction, Spelling Force delivers real results in an engaging, adaptive, and educationally sound format.

Its blend of intelligent learning, rich content, curriculum alignment, and student motivation makes it more than just a spelling app—it’s a full-scale educational tool that empowers learners and supports educators. In a time where digital tools are increasingly important in classrooms, Spelling Force stands out as a robust and thoughtful solution for developing confident, capable spellers.

Free Trials available for teachers and parents

To start a free Spelling Force trial go to Spelling Force and follow the prompts.

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Here’s the sign-up link if the image above doesn’t work:

https://forms.aweber.com/form/07/1910174607.htm

“The content presented in this blog are the result of creative imagination and not intended for use, reproduction, or incorporation into any artificial intelligence training or machine learning systems without prior written consent from the author.”


Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.

A Typing Website With a Twist

This how-to-type website doesn’t get enough exposure so I’m doing a quick overview of pros and cons and how to use it. If you’re looking for a good typing program to engage your students during summer school or next school year, this is an excellent choice:

KidzType is a free comprehensive approach to learning keyboarding. The ad- and distraction-free interface provides not only practice drills but quick links to grade-appropriate keyboarding games (including popular ones from DanceMat Typing). It’s easy to get started and just as easy to use making it the perfect tool for busy teachers and students who have lots to do besides keyboarding.

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4 Reasons to use Word Problems and 9 Online Resources

Word problems are popular and fun methods of teaching math and English in many schools. Why? See which of these you agree with:

  1. Real-world relevance: They present scenarios that make concepts more tangible and help students see the practical applications of what they are learning.
  2. Critical thinking: They require students analyze information, identify relevant concepts.
  3. Multifaceted learning: Word problems often involve multiple steps that integrate a variety of concepts and skills.
  4. Language skills: Word problems involve reading and understanding written instructions, requiring students interpret written information, extract relevant details, and communicate solutions.

Here are popular online resources to teach about Word Problems (click for updates on this list):

  1. Expii Solve–math word problems and puzzles, lots of them
  2. IXL Word Problems–by grade
  3. Math and Logic Problems
  4. Math Pickle–puzzles, games, and mini competitions
  5. Prodigy Math Word Problems–about 120
  6. Thinking Blocks–free (app)
  7. Word problems–type them in, Wolfram/Alpha provides the answer and the how-to. Amazing.
  8. Word Problems from Math Playground
  9. Would You Rather–more like a justification for decisions using math

–image credit Deposit Photos

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frayer model in storyboard that

Teach Vocabulary with the Frayer Model

Frayer Model flowchartIn a perfect world, vocabulary is learned in context: The phrases and sentences around the unknown word define the meaning. If that isn’t sufficient, students use affixes — prefixes, suffixes, and roots — to decode meaning. But because the world isn’t always that pristine,  Dorothy Frayer and her colleagues at the University of West Virginia came up with a vocabulary teaching tool that has come to be known as “the Frayer Model”. Now used by thousands of educators, this approach to word study relies on analyzing words rather than memorizing definitions. Somewhat like Concept Circles, the Frayer Model uses a graphical organizer that asks students to describe words by much more than a memorized definition. They must:

  • define the term
  • describe essential characteristics
  • provide examples
  • provide non-examples

Because the Frayer Model digs deeply into understanding the word, it promotes critical thinking and a granular familiarity with unfamiliar vocabulary. It draws on a student’s prior knowledge to build connections among new concepts and creates a visual reference by which students learn to compare attributes and examples.

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7 Coding Words You Need To Know 

Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, Jeremy Keeshin, is the CEO and co-founder of CodeHS, a leading coding education platform for schools, used by millions of students. He believes educators must focus on teaching students the building blocks of technology–coding, problem-solving, and the vocabulary that clarifies both. Here are a few of the essential tech words that should be part of a students’ daily conversation not just in a tech class but in all learning. OK, maybe not ‘Assembly Language’ but definitely ‘coding’, ‘bits’, ‘debugging’, and ‘apps’ with all of its cousins:

Your Coding Vocab Lesson: 7 Words You Need To Know 

There’s a lot of new vocabulary to pick up as you enter the world of coding. Here’s a few words to help you get started navigating code.

1. Code and Coding 

Let’s start at the beginning: What is code? What is coding?

Coding is giving instructions to a computer. Code is the instructions for the computer.

Your first line of code might look something like this:

print("Hello")

This prints “Hello” out to the screen. When you type an email and hit send, someone has written code to make that work. When you open your phone, hit an icon that looks like a camera, take a photo, and it saves to the cloud—that is code. Code is what powers any technology or software you use.

2. Programming Language

Code is written in a particular programming language, which is the set of rules, or language, for giving instructions to the computer. The language may have some specific syntax about what code you can write.

There are many different programming languages used for different things. A few popular programming languages include JavaScript, Python, C++, and Java. They are built for different use cases and have different tradeoffs.

Just like foreign languages, programming languages are often related to each other; they have different histories and taxonomies; and they evolve over time.

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5 Websites for 4th Grade Word Study

word cloudHere are a few of the popular resources teachers are using to reinforce and teach word study:

  1. Grammar games–a collection of easy-to-use games that cover grammar, vocabulary, parts of speech, and more
  2. Vocabulary-Spelling City–the ever-favorite word study program that lets you enter your class word lists and the site will turn them into engaging games.
  3. Visuwords–a visual tool to see what words and concepts are related to specific words
  4. Vocabulary Fun–use games to learn affixes, syllables, synonyms, idioms, and more
  5. Word Central—from Merriam Webster–not only reinforces learning with games but allows students to build their own dictionary; also has a tab for educators.

Click here for more Word Study websites.

Click here for updates to this list.

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