Lisa Burman

Registrations close on August 19th, 2019

You have 6 months access to all course materials

Early Bird Discount until 29th July

enter code: spellearly 

for $50 discount pp

Learning to spell conventionally is not something that comes naturally. It requires teaching. But sometimes this teaching is not clear or explicit...or engaging for the learner.

As a class-based teacher, I was often frustrated and confused about the teaching of spelling. I confidently embraced an inquiry approach to learning. I believed (and still do!) that we learn more when we actively construct our own understandings. I revelled in creating playful contexts for learning to be literate, where children were active and engaged in meaningful learning experiences, not merely 'activities' or busy-work tasks. But the way I taught spelling didn't feel right for a long time.

Early in my career, I tried many different approaches to the teaching of spelling. Most didn't fit well with my philosophy and were soon abandoned when I couldn't reconcile the rote-learning of words or phonics-drills with my vision for learning. Others began with grand ideas and a clearer connection to my beliefs, but were so time-consuming and complex that I failed to keep up the momentum for more than a month or so.

Then I discovered the philosophy of socio-constructivism and the pedagogy of inquiry! This is what I had been looking for! All I needed to do was figure out how to bring an inquiry stance into the way I taught spelling.

The Spelling Investigations eCourse is the culmination of many years of reading, thinking, talking, experimenting, tweaking and experimenting again. It's not 'everything about spelling' and it's not perfect. (BTW - Nothing is perfect - time we all accepted that!) The eCourse seeks to offer some clarity over all the competing messages about spelling and draws on the inspiring work of educators and researchers such as Misty Adoniou, Tessa Daffern, Diane Snowball and Faye Bolton.

Spelling Investigations will give you a path into exploring spelling in ways that respect the learning potential of every child to research, make connections, see patterns and construct theories. This needs to start before the first Spelling Investigation, of course, when you mindfully create a culture of curiosity with the young writers you work with.

It's time to become 'WORD NERDS'! 

Will you join me? 

What others are saying about the Spelling Investigations eCourse

"Lisa’s Spelling Investigations eCourse was, as always, very informative, engaging and practical. 

Her eCourse format allowed you to work at your own pace and give you the time to reflect upon and try new concepts explored. 

Lisa provides all the background research and information required and then extends this with contemporary ideas and strategies for you to implement in the classroom. 

I loved how easy these were to apply into my own class! Thank you Lisa for another amazing professional development opportunity!"

Courtney, Foundation (K) Teacher

Commonly Asked Questions

I’ve never done an online course before – what is it like?

I personally talk you though a series of slides that you’ll follow at your own pace on the screen. You have control over how slowly or quickly you work through each Module. The downloadable Reflection Guide supports your thinking with key points from each Module and guide questions and prompts so you can make connections along the way. In between Modules there are suggested reflection questions to guide your journalling and/or conversation with colleagues.

How long does each Module take?

It is difficult to know this exactly, because everyone learns at their own pace and will take different amounts of time to journal and/or discuss with colleagues. However, a rough estimate is that each Module will take approximately 30 - 60 minutes.

Do I need to do the Modules in order?

Yes. The Modules are designed to build on each other and need to be followed in order. However, you can always return to a previous Module if you want to review anything.

How long will the whole eCourse take?

Again, this is hard to know as your personal schedule will determine how often you can engage with the online materials. I recommend that you give yourself a week in between each Module so you can consolidate your thinking and also have time for the Between Module Reflections. For this reason, the Modules are ‘dripped’ out to you once a week. But don’t worry if reports are due or your children get sick and you don’t get to a Module one week. You will have three months to access it so you have the time to devote to your learning.

Do I get Professional Development credit for the hours of professional learning?

At the completion of Module 4, a certificate of participation for 6 hours will be supplied to you. (This is based on 1 hour per Module and an estimated two hours for the Between Module reflections.)

How does it work if I purchase a Team Registration?

We all know we learn so much more when we have the chance to talk about our thinking and listen to others’ ideas. I recommend that each participant has his/her own individual log-in to work through the modules independently and then get together to share and discuss (the Reflection and are really helpful for this).

Email Melissa at [email protected] with the names of your team members and she will send you a discount code. You qualify for the team discount if there are more than 3 participants from the same site/team.

But what if I don’t have a team to learn with?

Don’t worry! You will still get a lot from the eCourse if you need to learn on your own. In fact, even if you’re learning with a team it is a good idea to journal your ideas. The Reflection Guides will support you in this. And…one of the reasons I decided to use Thinkific as the hosting site for my eCourses is each eCourse has a Discussion capacity. So if you like to feel connected to some others who are learning through the eCourse at the same time as you, you can post ideas or questions in the Discussions and build some online connections. I check in on the Discussions each week too.

What technology do I need?

All you need is a computer with speakers and access to a reliable internet service. The course modules have been thoroughly tested across multiple devices and browsers and are all functioning correctly, but occasionally some users run into issues. These are usually related to specific computers, internet browsers, internet connections or school security firewalls.

To avoid the frustration of being blocked by your site’s security firewall (which unfortunately we can't control), we recommend that prior to beginning the eCourse, you contact your school’s ICT/Network manager about removing any security block on the eCourse or Thinkific site.

We also find that GoogleChrome is a more reliable browser for the Thinkific platform so you might like to use this from the start.

How much does it cost?

Full access to the 4 Modules is AU$195.00 per person, including admin fees and GST (Australia). 

What do I get for this Registration Fee?

• Access to all 4 Modules for 3 months
• Reflection Guide for each Module
• Downloadable examples and templates to support your assessment of spelling and planning for your Spelling Investigations.