Spelling programs in elementary school grades are a controversial topic among teachers, parents, and researchers in the field of best practices. Because spelling is a foundational skill of literacy, recent education publications continue to stir contention among teachers to resolve what is the best approaches to spelling instruction. Proficient spelling enhances the quality of writing and proficient reading, so a developmental word study approach is essential. In this article, the author presents a research-based case demonstrating how the instructional program Words Their Way is an effective method to assess and instruct spelling, which may be integrated in balanced literacy programs in preschool to secondary grades.