Building deeper understanding with morphology...
When we consider words within their morphological families, we help students learn multiple words at a time, increasing their vocabulary and supporting comprehension. However, the common lists of Latin and Greek bases create contradictions when we break down words into morphemes, or meaningful chunks. This can lead to an inconsistent and incomplete understanding of the spelling of words and creates missed opportunities to make meaningful connections. Through Structured Word Inquiry, we can unlock the true structure of English spelling.
Participants will:
• Learn how to use word sums as your primary tool to demonstrate and test word structure
• Explore the importance of single, final, non-syllabic <e> (or 'silent e')
• Practice building word sums using the three suffixing conventions
• Understand the distinctions between free bases, bound bases, and historical roots
• Learn how examining morphological structure reveals meaningful connections between words that might otherwise seem unrelated
This course will allow you to evaluate curriculum materials as well as run your own investigations, knowing that you are guiding your students to a coherent and clear understanding of word structures.
The course will be delivered as a LIVE 3-part series on Zoom.
Saturdays: November 15, 22, and December 6, 2025
- 9:00-10:30am San Francisco
- 12:00-1:30pm New York
- 5:00-6:30pm London
- 4:00-5:30am Sydney (Sunday)
Recordings available: All sessions will be recorded and available without expiration through Teachable, so you can revisit the content anytime.
Example Curriculum
About your instructor
With an undergraduate degree in linguistics and an M.A. in education, Rebecca Loveless spent 15 years in early elementary classrooms passionately guiding young readers and writers. In 2013, after an inspiring and revelatory workshop with Dr. Pete Bowers, she left the classroom to begin a private tutoring and coaching practice solely based in Structured Word Inquiry.
Currently she is the part-time SWI Coach at The Nueva School in California. She also enjoys consulting with schools across the U.S., guiding teachers and administrators who are working to adopt SWI into their curriculum. Additionally, she offers several online classes, which have been attended by teachers, specialists, and parents from all over the world.
Along with Fiona Hamilton, Rebecca is the co-author of "The High Frequency Word Project," a teaching resource that explains the spelling of over 100 frequently used and misunderstood words. When not thinking about words, you’ll likely find her in the garden or on the hiking trails. You can read more about her work on her website at www.illuminatewords.com.
