The Science of Reading: Encoding

This workshop explores the critical role of encoding—applying knowledge of phoneme-grapheme correspondences to spell words—in developing strong reading and writing skills. Participants will examine the foundations of spelling, including phonology, orthography, morphology, and etymology, and how each supports accurate and automatic word recognition. The session includes a variety of hands-on encoding activities, such as sentence dictation, spelling single-syllable and multisyllabic words, and word chains, all scaffolded through gradual release. Educators will also study the developmental stages of spelling, from precommunicative to conventional, and learn targeted instructional strategies for each stage.

• Limited understanding of how spelling instruction supports reading development.
  
  
• Lack of explicit, systematic approaches to teaching spelling and encoding at various developmental stages.
  
  
• Difficulty in differentiating spelling instruction to meet the needs of students across a wide range of abilities.

1. Application of Foundational Spelling Knowledge: Participants will learn how to integrate phonological, orthographic, morphological, and etymological knowledge to enhance students’ spelling and reading proficiency.
   
   
2. Instructional Strategies by Developmental Stage: Educators will gain strategies to identify students’ spelling stages and apply targeted, research-based instructional techniques to move them toward conventional spelling.
   
   
3. Engaging Encoding Activities for the Classroom: Attendees will leave with a repertoire of practical, scaffolded activities—such as stretch-and-spell, vowel team practice, and word chains—that support both encoding skills and reading fluency