Articles on: Literacy

Spelling rules. Where do they occur in PLD’s Structured Synthetic Phonics (SSP) program?

Keep in mind, PLD is a structured, synthetic phonics approach first and foremost, which brings together a phonics sequence and applied phonological (and phonemic) awareness, when segmenting and blending and engaging in speech-to-print and print-to-speech tasks. Rules are provided when relevant to a particular phonic concept. PLD DOES NOT lead with overarching rules that govern a range of phonic concepts. That approach IS NOT a PLD approach.

Useful reading: Spelling rules, do they help or hinder: https://fivefromfive.com.au/phonics-teaching/essential-principles-of-systematic-and-explicit-phonics-instruction/spelling-rules-help-or-hinder-leaning-to-read/

In the PLD process, the spelling rules are taught relative to what concepts are being instructed in class.

Location 1: **If there is a spelling rule that is relevant to a phonic concept, it is outlined at the bottom of the Structured Synthetic Phonics Time-Savers word lists. An example from the Stage 2 section has been provided below:

Location 2: **If there is a spelling rule that is relevant to a phonic concept, it is outlined within the Phonic Sight Word Sequence lists. An example from the Stage 4 section has been provided below:

Location 3: Also contained within the Phonic Sight Word Sequence at the end of stages 1, 2 and 3 there are spelling rules that relate to bound morphemes (or suffixes). An example from Stage 3 has been provided below:

Location 4: In the recent editions of the Spelling Activities for the Junior Primary and the Spelling Activities for the Middle and Upper Primary this is made very easy with pages with words already added, and the teaching points that need to be covered, as well as templates where teachers can add in their own words.

Updated on: 15/05/2026

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