The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of an instructional spelling approach, Word Study, on adult learners' spelling. The author sought to learn more about participants' stage of spelling development, to gain information from the adults on their interpretations of this approach, and to determine if a short-term intervention would…

Describes how an adult male learner who had been identified as learning disabled many years ago participated in a spelling-based word-study program. Describes the program and its theoretical rationale, discusses his progress, and notes implications for adult-literacy learners' spelling instruction. (SR)

Argues the importance of contextually relevant word study across the curriculum of upper levels of schooling. Outlines and describes seven general principles for making word study strategies a natural part of ongoing studies in the subject areas, and describes their application in class. (SR)