As students think, compose, and explore a topic, spelling may not matter; when clear communication is needed and when the work will be shared with others, spelling matters.

When Spelling Matters shows teachers how to nurture writers and build student confidence in their ability to write and spell. It argues that children learn to spell by investigating how words work and by recognizing the unique structure and patterns of words. Based on the belief that children need multiple strategies to help them spell, this practical book offers a series of explicit lessons that address the developmental nature of spelling and encourage students to apply their growing word knowledge to their own writing and editing.

This thoughtful and straightforward book is committed to encouraging students to love words, be inspired by metaphors and word origins, and see language as a valuable resource to be mined deeply. This love of language will enable students to have something to say when they write, and they will produce pieces of writing that are worth editing, reading, and sharing.