Teacher | Trainer | Author

Helping people to understand and feel confident with spelling. 



Hello, I'm Sharona, the proud founder of Spelling Academy and School Start. My passion lies in ensuring that everyone has the chance to excel in spelling. I understand firsthand the challenges of struggling with spelling and how it can impact both education and self-confidence. During my teenage years, spelling was a hurdle I diligently worked to overcome. Through years of studying the english spelling system, I not only conquered my own struggles but developed a deep love for words and a newfound confidence in spelling. It's this experience that fuels my ability and motivation to effectively teach others.

My goal is to eliminate spelling difficulties by improving teaching and learning standards in this field. I'm aware of the urgent need for "high quality" and "easy to use" educational resources aimed at developing essential literacy skills in older children and teenagers. These resources should empower both learners and instructors, particularly parents seeking support for their children, or teachers who may lack confidence in teaching spelling strategies.

Over the past twelve years, I’ve created several products and programs, which are being purchased and used by people all around Australia:

1. The Spelling Strategies Program: an intervention spelling program for older children, teenagers and adults who experience spelling difficulties.

2. The School Start Program: for teaching reading and writing skills that children should learn in their first year of schooling. Emphasising a multisensory approach, this course is accompanied with a School Start Buddy Case. Complete with magnetic letters, sentence blocks, word cards, and whiteboards, this toolkit enhances engagement and facilitates interactive learning experiences.

3. Phonics Sequence: this is a 20-30 minutes routine that uses essential reading and writing skills to introduce one "spelling" for a sound each day. 

With over two decades of teaching experience under my belt, coupled with my role as the literacy intervention coordinator at a school in South Australia, I actively mentor and support fellow educators. My Spelling Strategies Program and associated resources have gained recognition through adoption by SPELD SA (Specific Learning Difficulties Association South Australia). Within this capacity, I conduct specialized workshops catering to teachers, tutors, parents, and speech pathologists, focusing on spelling intervention techniques. My passion lies in assisting others to master spelling, and the gratifying feedback I receive from program users is immensely rewarding. It's heartening to hear how individuals are impressed by the course's simplicity and clarity, and how it enriches their understanding of words and spelling.