07/09/2026
At the end of June, Trellus hosted a spelling bee for our adult English language students, who represent more than 35 different native languages. The event celebrated not only spelling skills but also the important role that sound awareness plays in literacy development.
Spelling Trivia: How many sounds are in the word weight?
The answer is 3: /w/ /ā/ /t/
Few people stop to think about the connection between sounds and spelling. Yet understanding how spoken sounds map to written words is a critical building block of reading and writing. Research from the science of reading emphasizes that explicit spelling instruction is a key component of literacy development. By helping learners understand the sounds of English and how those sounds connect to print, we are building confidence and creating stronger readers, writers, and communicators.
At Trellus, one of the ways we address literacy for growing readers is through our spelling club, which is led by literacy intervention instructor Leona Leighton. With the Spelling Club, learners in lower levels develop phonemic awareness by listening to words and breaking them into individual sounds. This foundational skill helps students strengthen their spelling, reading, and overall literacy abilities. Our higher-level ESL learners also participate in a Spelling Club designed for students who have strong speaking and listening skills but continue to face challenges with spelling, reading, and writing. For these learners, targeted literacy support can be transformative—strengthening academic success, workplace communication, and overall confidence.
The spelling bee gives students a fun opportunity to put their skills to the test. It creates positive motivation to study, prepare, practice, and challenge themselves while celebrating learning alongside their peers. Just as importantly, it helps build a sense of community, encouragement, and shared achievement among students from diverse language backgrounds.
