Course Length: 2.5 hours (access is 365 days from date of enrolment)

Course Creator: Dr. Katharyn Cullen

Unlock the history of English words through etymology — and transform how you teach spelling and vocabulary. English words carry stories of culture, history and meaning. This course, created by Dr Katharyn Cullen, will show you how to harness those stories to enrich spelling instruction, expand vocabulary, and deepen student engagement with language. You’ll learn practical ways to connect word origins to classroom teaching, helping students see words not as isolated spellings to be memorised, but as meaningful building blocks of communication.

Grounded in the latest literacy research and framed through the lens of the four spelling knowledges — phonology, orthography, morphology and etymology — this course gives teachers and leaders the knowledge and strategies to teach spelling as a meaning-driven, equitable, and engaging part of literacy instruction.

Learning outcomes:

• Unlocking word origins: Learn to harness the power of etymonline.com to trace roots and uncover the histories behind the words you teach.
• Distinguishing roots from relatives: Gain clarity on the differences between etymological roots and morphological relatives, and why these distinctions matter for learning.
• Engaging with eponyms and cognates: Explore how these word types can enhance recall by tapping into familiarity and connections across languages.
• The importance of etymology in all classrooms: Understand why etymology is a vital component of multilinguistic word study, offering unique insights into English words.
• Understanding the building blocks of English language: Appreciate the complementary roles of phonology, orthography, morphology and etymology in word learning.
• Equity through language: Discover how explicit word study supports diverse learners, helping to overcome barriers linked to background, experience or location.

Who should participate?

• Teachers Years 4 – 8
• Literacy Leaders
• Heads of Curriculum
• Heads of Instruction
• Deputy and Assistant Principals with a passion for word knowledge
• EAL/D Coordinators

About your course creator:

Katharyn is an accomplished educational leader, innovator and curriculum specialist who holds a PhD in Using Linguistic Lenses to Improve Classroom Instruction. She is the author of “Using Linguistic Lenses to Journey into Words: A Teacher’s Guide to Phonology, Orthography, Morphology and Etymology,” which is a foundational text for teachers and school leaders seeking to transform word knowledge instruction. As a former Head of Junior School and Head of Campus (ELC- Year 6), her creative, high-energy approach and results-oriented vision have significantly improved staff engagement and student outcomes.

What else do I need to know?

• This PL course is self-paced and unmoderated. All participants have access to materials for 365 days from the date they register.
•  This course addresses standards 1.3.2, 2.1.2, 2.2.2, 2.5.2, 3.1.2, 3.2.2, 3.3.2 and 3.4.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. 

*all tickets must be booked at the same time for the discount to apply