What is Structured Word Inquiry? Morphology Part 1

This interactive 1.5-hour virtual workshop invites educators to delve into the role of morphology in unlocking students’ spelling and vocabulary potential. Participants will examine how morphological instruction can enhance students’ comprehension of word structure, enabling them to better understand complex words.

This part 1 of a 2-part series introduces a dynamic, inquiry-based approach—Structured Word Inquiry (SWI)—to guide students in analyzing the relationships between word meanings, spellings, sounds, and etymology. Educators will also explore practical tools and strategies for conducting morphological investigations, empowering students to identify patterns across word families and deepen their understanding of affixes and Latin bases.

* This is part 1 of a 2-part series. Optional Part 2 will take place on January 20, 2025.

Audience: Elementary literacy teachers, middle school literacy teachers, instructional coaches, literacy coaches
Length: 1.5 Hour Workshop
Presenter: Meghan Sanchez
Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Time: 4:30 – 6 PM PST

Outcomes

• Recognize how morphology instruction can improve students’ spelling, vocabulary, and understanding of the English language
• Understand the 4 steps of Structured Word Inquiry, an inquiry-based framework that helps students explore the semantics, orthography, phonology, and etymology of various words
• Practice using morphological tools and routines to help students understand the meanings of various affixes and bases

Topics

• What is morphology?
• 4 Steps of SWI
• Tools of SWI: Word Web, Word Sums, Word Matrices

Teacher Bio

Meghan Sanchez is a Teacher Training Consultant with Chartwell Teaching Institute (CTI). Meghan brings 10+ years of experience to the classroom and prior to this role, was a homeroom teacher at Chartwell for the last two years. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Haverford College in Haverford, PA and a dual Masters in Elementary Education and Special Education from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Meghan served as the director of academic support and as academic dean at Lake Tahoe Preparatory School. Meghan has taught students of all ages, ranging from PreK-4 to high school, and has also supported new educators as a graduate assistant with Johns Hopkins University School of Education. Meghan lives in Truckee, CA, with her wife, Kayla, and dog, Reagan.