Learn to Spell Publishers

Learn to Spell Publishing is an independent (husband and wife) publishing company producing two series of books: Cross Spell Crosswords and Practise with Puzzles (comprising 13 books in total). These resources are designed to widen students' vocabulary and enhance their spelling ability in an engaging and enjoyable way, through the use of crosswords and word puzzles. These educational puzzle books (with appealing graphics and text) are popular with students, teachers, and parents at school and at home.
The author of the books, Julie Crimmins-Crocker has been working in education since 1986. She has taught in a range of Primary Schools in England and New Zealand, and has worked with older students too. During her teaching career, she has also held responsibility for Learning Support, Gifted Students, and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).She has been a Deputy Principal in New Zealand since 1998 and also an Across-School Teacher for a Community of Learning (comprising nine schools and five Early Childhood Education Centres). She has a Master of Educational Leadership Degree (First Class Honours) and is a published author of Phonics and Spelling Resources in the United Kingdom (Harper Collins – Practise with Puzzles). This series is now available in New Zealand through Learn to Spell.
Spelling and the English Language are her passion and she has drawn upon her wide and varied experience as an author and educator to create these original and exciting language resources, published by Learn to Spell Publishing.
How do students learn to spell?
Whether slowly or at speed, all learners move through a number of key spelling stages: pre-communicative writing, semi-phonetic, phonetic, transitional, integrated and correct spelling
These stages involve different strategies, which are key to students’ growing spelling competence and confidence: phonetic, visual, rule based, morphemic, contextual and etymological.
The Learn to Spell books support students through these spelling stages and cover these vital spelling strategies.
Why Do Puzzles Help Spelling Learning When Lists and Tests Do Not?
The only children who benefit from spelling lists and tests are those who get good results - and it is their self-esteem that is enhanced rather than their spelling ability. They were already good spellers.
The children who don’t benefit from spelling tests are those who are poor at spelling. They struggled with spelling before the test, they get poor results and they still struggle after the test. Testing is not teaching, and puzzles are much more fun and more beneficial too. When children are having fun they are more engaged. Puzzles are a win-win in the home or classroom, as happy enthusiastic students are also more ‘switched-on’ to learning.

For more information about spelling stages, spelling strategies and the educational benefits of puzzles for learning spelling go to https://learntospell.co/