Writing and spelling teaching ideas

Evidence-informed articles on the explicit teaching of writing and spelling, and on feedback that moves learning forward.

  • Writing

    How to give writing feedback students can actually use

    A practical writing-feedback routine: choose a focus, discuss a worked example, revise a passage and check independent use in a later task.

    8 September 20262 min read

  • Spelling

    Build a spelling routine that fits your school day

    Plan spelling practice around explicit teaching: model a word pattern, inspect written attempts, revisit missed words and check transfer into writing.

    8 September 20262 min read

  • Teaching & Learning

    Find your next writing lesson in your students’ work

    Turn a class writing pattern into a focused lesson: inspect the drafts, model one decision, form flexible groups and check a fresh piece of writing.

    8 September 20262 min read

  • School Leadership

    NAPLAN proficiency levels explained for school leaders

    The four NAPLAN proficiency levels explained: why bands were retired in 2023, what the 2026 writing results show, and how to set your school’s writing priority.

    26 October 20268 min read

  • Teaching & Learning

    Help students see how far their writing has come

    Bring earlier drafts back into the conversation and celebrate the decisions behind better writing.

    8 September 20261 min read

  • Writing

    Revision doesn’t have to mean starting again

    Help students improve one passage, explain their choices, and carry that learning into the next draft.

    8 September 20261 min read

  • Spelling

    What spelling mistakes can tell you about the next lesson

    Look beyond right and wrong to find a pattern worth exploring with your class.

    8 September 20261 min read

  • School Leadership

    Start a school-wide conversation about writing

    Use a shared writing sample to make your next team discussion practical and focused.

    8 September 20261 min read

  • Writing

    Choose a writing prompt that leaves room for ideas

    Give students a starting point, with enough space to make the writing their own.

    8 September 20261 min read

  • Writing

    A fresh way to revise: hear your writing back

    Use a read-aloud routine to notice missing words, repeated phrases, and sentences that need another look.

    8 September 20261 min read

  • Teaching & Learning

    Plan a writing cycle with time for the next draft

    Plan a writing lesson with a model text, guided practice, independent drafting, focused feedback and a later check of the taught skill.

    8 September 20262 min read

  • Teaching & Learning

    NAPLAN writing rubric: narrative and persuasive criteria

    The 10 NAPLAN narrative and persuasive writing criteria explained for teachers, with classroom questions, official marking guides and a focused lesson example.

    8 September 20263 min read

  • Spelling

    Give tricky spelling words another chance

    Use a short revisit to help students think about what they missed and what to try next.

    8 September 20261 min read

  • Company & Product

    Make handwritten work part of the feedback journey

    Keep the original page close as you review a transcript and plan the next teaching step.

    8 September 20261 min read

  • School Leadership

    Choose a writing focus your team can act on

    Move from a broad improvement priority to one teachable skill and a useful check-in.

    8 September 20261 min read

  • Teaching & Learning

    Bring Book Week into the writing lesson

    Use the books your class enjoys as a starting point for a week of original writing, discussion and revision.

    9 September 20262 min read

  • Teaching & Learning

    Turn Science Week curiosity into writing

    Connect noticing, questioning and imagining with narrative and persuasive writing your class can make its own.

    9 September 20262 min read

  • Teaching & Learning

    Write with purpose for World Teachers’ Day

    Make space for thoughtful stories about learning and persuasive writing about the classroom students want to be part of.

    9 September 20262 min read

  • Teaching & Learning

    Give every language a voice this Children’s Week

    Turn this year’s Children’s Week theme into a persuasive task about the languages students would most like to learn.

    19 October 20262 min read

  • Teaching & Learning

    Give writing a second life in National Recycling Week

    Use everyday objects to spark stories about second chances and persuasive writing about smarter habits.

    19 October 20262 min read

  • Teaching & Learning

    Write about kindness without the clichés

    Help students write about kindness through specific actions, surprising helpers and well-argued nominations.

    19 October 20261 min read

  • Teaching & Learning

    From paddock to page for National Agriculture Day

    Connect food, farms and persuasive writing with a task about whether every class should visit a farm.

    19 October 20262 min read

  • Teaching & Learning

    Make room for everyone in the writing lesson

    Use International Day of People with Disability to write persuasively and respectfully about including everyone.

    19 October 20262 min read

  • Teaching & Learning

    Summer writing: heatwaves, beaches and big opinions

    Welcome summer with a heatwave story and a persuasive task about swimming lessons for every child.

    19 October 20261 min read

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