What Is Structured Word Inquiry (SWI)?

Structured Word Inquiry is a scientific, linguistic approach to teaching spelling, reading, and vocabulary.
Instead of asking students to memorize word lists, SWI teaches them to investigate how words are built and why they are spelled the way they are.

In simple terms:

SWI teaches students to be word detectives.

They learn that English spelling is not random—it is logical and meaningful.

SWI is based on three key pillars:

1. Morphology – how words are built from meaningful parts

2. Etymology – where words come from

3. Phonology – how sounds connect to spelling

Why Phonics Alone Is Not Enough

Phonics focuses only on sounds and letters.
But English spelling is designed to preserve meaning , not just sound.

For example:

Word           Meaning Connection
Sign              Signature
Heal              Health
Magic           Magician

Phonics cannot explain why these words share spelling patterns—but SWI can.

Students learn that:

Sign keeps the g because it connects to signal and signature

Heal and health are linked by meaning, not just sound

This reduces confusion and increases confidence.

How SWI Works in the Classroom

Instead of memorizing spelling lists, students explore words using:

1. Word Sums

They break words into meaningful units:

heal + th → health
magic + ian → magician
act + ive → active

This shows students that spelling is structured, not random.

2. Word Families

Students learn whole families of words:

act → action → active → actor → react

One word unlocks many others, boosting vocabulary and spelling together.

3. Etymology (Word Origins)

Students discover where words come from:

. Latin

. Greek

. Old English

Knowing origins helps explain unusual spellings and meanings.

Why SWI Is Powerful for SEN and Learning Support Students

SWI is especially effective for:

. Dyslexia

. ADHD

. Language processing difficulties

. EAL learners

Because it:

. Reduces rote memorization

. Builds logical patterns

. Improves long-term retention

. Strengthens reading, spelling, and vocabulary together

Students no longer feel that English is “tricky” or unfair—it becomes predictable and meaningful.

SWI Builds Thinking, Not Just Spelling

Perhaps the most powerful part of SWI is this:

Students don’t just learn words.
They learn how words work.

They ask:

. Why is it spelled this way?

. What is the base word?

. What does it mean?

This turns literacy into an investigation , not a struggle.

Structured Word Inquiry respects the intelligence of learners.
It shows them that English is not chaotic—it is a beautifully designed system.

For teachers, learning support specialists, and inclusive classrooms, SWI offers something powerful:

A way to teach literacy that makes sense.

And when learning makes sense, confidence grows.