Description
Foundations for Teaching and Intervention
The Structured Word Inquiry Primer is an 18-hour course designed for teachers, speech-language pathologists, tutors, parents, and literacy specialists who want to develop a clear understanding of English orthography and the principles that support Structured Word Inquiry in teaching and intervention.
Many educators encounter Structured Word Inquiry (SWI) through workshops that focus on investigating words and exploring word families. These workshops can be incredibly valuable, but they often assume familiarity with the foundational concepts and terminology that explain how the English writing system works.
This course provides that foundation.
Participants will explore the three interrelated dimensions of orthography—morphology, etymology, and phonology—and learn how these elements interact within the English writing system. The course introduces key terminology and concepts used in Structured Word Inquiry and provides the conceptual grounding needed to engage more deeply in word investigation.
While the course introduces tools such as word sums and word matrices, the focus is on developing the foundational understanding needed to make sense of these tools and use them meaningfully with learners.
Throughout the course, we will connect these ideas to real teaching and intervention contexts, helping participants see how an understanding of orthography can support students who struggle with reading and spelling, including those with dyslexia and language-based learning differences.
The course concludes with a practical demonstration of how the principles explored throughout the class can guide instruction—even with very simple words.
Course Sequence
Foundations of Structured Word Inquiry
The opening sessions introduce the philosophy and core concepts underlying Structured Word Inquiry and how these ideas inform effective teaching and intervention.
Understanding the Structure of English Orthography
Participants explore the three interrelated dimensions of orthography:
- Etymology – how the history of words influences spelling
- Morphology – how words are structured through bases and affixes
- Phonology – how sound patterns interact with spelling
Tools for Investigating Words
Participants will be introduced to tools commonly used in Structured Word Inquiry, including word sums, word matrices, and the study of word families.
Application to Teaching and Intervention
The final sessions focus on applying these concepts in practice, helping participants see how Structured Word Inquiry can guide instruction across a range of learners and contexts.
Who This Course Is For?
This course is designed for educators and clinicians who want to develop a deeper understanding of the English writing system and the principles underlying Structured Word Inquiry.
It may be particularly helpful for:
- Classroom teachers interested in exploring the structure of English spelling
- Speech-language pathologists working with students who struggle with reading and spelling
- Literacy specialists and reading interventionists seeking a deeper conceptual understanding of orthography
- Tutors and private educators who support students with dyslexia or other language-based learning differences
- Educators who are curious about Structured Word Inquiry and want a clear starting point before exploring more advanced workshops
- Parents who would like to learn to use SWI themselves so they can support their child.
No prior experience with Structured Word Inquiry is required.
What Participants Will Leave With
By the end of the course, participants will:
- Understand the three interrelated dimensions of English orthography: morphology, etymology, and phonology
- Become familiar with the key terminology and concepts used in Structured Word Inquiry
- Develop a clearer understanding of how the structure of words supports reading and spelling
- Learn how tools such as word sums, word matrices, and word families can help represent and investigate word structure
- Gain insight into how these ideas can support teaching and intervention for students who struggle with literacy
Participants will leave with a stronger conceptual framework for understanding English spelling and greater confidence in beginning to apply Structured Word Inquiry in their work with learners.
Course Format
18 hours of live instruction delivered via Zoom
Six Sunday sessions
11:00–2:00 PM Central Time
- October 4, 2026
- October 11, 2026
- October 18, 2026
- October 25, 2026
- November 1, 2026
- November 8, 2026
Included with Registration
- Downloadable Structured Word Inquiry Primer handbook
- Course slides for reference
- Session recordings available during the course and for 60 days after the final session
- Certificate of completion
Tuition
$200
Class size will be limited to ensure meaningful interaction and opportunities for questions.
Meet Your Instructor
Shawna Pope-Jefferson, MS, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist with more than 25 years of experience across clinical, educational, rehabilitation, and university settings. More than 10 years of her work have focused on children and adolescents with language and literacy challenges. Her background includes service in hospitals, schools, early intervention, rehabilitation, two years at a nationally recognized residential rehabilitation center for adolescents with traumatic brain injury, and nine and a half years as a senior lecturer and clinical supervisor in a university clinical program.
Her work has included developing tools for both clinicians and students, including a cognitive update reporting system used in residential rehabilitation and an assessment tool for evaluating graduate clinicians. She currently focuses on helping educators and clinicians understand the English writing system through Structured Word Inquiry, with particular attention to morphology, etymology, and phonology in literacy instruction and intervention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need prior experience with Structured Word Inquiry?
No prior experience with Structured Word Inquiry is required. This course is designed as a primer and introduces the foundational concepts and terminology that support deeper study of SWI.
Will the sessions be recorded?
Yes. All sessions will be recorded and will be available to participants throughout the course and for 60 days after the final session.
What if I have to miss a session?
Participants who miss a session will be able to watch the recording during the access period.
What materials are included?
Participants will receive a downloadable Structured Word Inquiry Primer handbook and course slides that can be used as reference materials during and after the course.
How interactive is the course?
The course includes opportunities for questions and discussion throughout each session. Class size will be limited to support meaningful interaction.
Will we learn how to create matrices and word sums?
The course introduces word sums and word matrices as tools used in Structured Word Inquiry. The focus of this primer, however, is on developing the foundational understanding of orthography that supports using these tools effectively.
Is this course appropriate for educators working with struggling readers or students with dyslexia?
Yes. The course explores how an understanding of morphology, etymology, and phonology can support teaching and intervention for students who experience difficulty with reading and spelling.
How will the course connect theory to practice?
The final sessions focus on application, demonstrating how the principles explored throughout the course can guide instruction and intervention with learners.