Teaching Tricky Words with Confidence for Australian Classrooms

For Australian classrooms, tricky words work best when children can see exactly which part of the word is unexpected. Keep the routine short, active and repeatable: read the word, talk about the tricky part, use it in a sentence, then return to it across the week.

Start with the part that catches children out

Instead of asking pupils to memorise the whole word at once, draw attention to the letters that do not follow the sound pattern they already know. This keeps practice purposeful and helps children connect phonics knowledge with everyday reading.

Build a small weekly rhythm

Choose three to five tricky words for the week. Revisit them through quick reading, spelling and sentence work so children meet each word in different contexts without the lesson feeling heavy.

Make it useful at home too

Send the same words home with a simple note for families: read it, say it, cover it, write it, check it. A shared routine between school and home gives children extra confidence without adding complicated preparation.