How can I help my child at home with their spelling?

For many children, spelling is one of the hardest areas to do well in. They practice writing their words five times each for homework, they study them, they seem to know the words for their Friday Spelling Test, but then by Monday the words are forgotten. They are practicing another set of words for the next Friday test. Words that they practiced and knew are now spelled wrong in the stories that they write.

---

So what’s the trick to learning how to spell and remembering the words for later?

Every child has a way of learning that works best for them. Some kids can write the words five times and just know them. Others need extra practice and need to try different methods to learn words. Below is one way to use multiple learning styles to make learning to spell less difficult. You will need a set of magnetic letters and something to put them on, such as a pizza pan or cookie sheet with edges.

1. Find the letters to make the word (help if needed).
2. Have them make the word from left to right.
3. “Take a picture” of the word with their eyes. I even have them make a camera sound. Tell them to find a place to store the picture so they can find it later.
4. Touch below the letters and spell the word out loud.
5. Slide their finger under the word and say it.
6. Then mix the letters up like a tornado and make it back as fast as they can. (You can even make wind noises to make it more fun!)
7. Mix it up and make it back at least 3 times in a row for each tricky word, spelling and saying the word each time.

Doing all of these different activities gives your child 4 ways to remember the words they are practicing. They get to see it, hear it, say it, and move the word. When they can make the word successfully, have them cover the word and spell it without looking. If they can do that successfully, have them write the word on paper or a wipe-off board as a practice test. Then continue to only practice the words that they don’t know yet. Review all their words every couple of days until you know they are a known word.

Don’t forget to notice if the words they are practicing have parts in them that your child already knows, (example: way in away, if and rent in different, or and it in favorite). Don’t use this strategy if the part they know makes a different sound, (example: it in with, me in come, eat in sweater).

**Remember the goal of learning new words is to be able to read them in books and use them in their writing.


Quick Tips:

Things to do:

• Find the magnetic letters needed.
• Make the word.
• Spell it out loud.
• Say it as a word.
• Mix the letters up and practice making it back quickly.
• Spell without looking.
• Write without looking.
• Review several days or weeks later.

Things you need:

• List of unknown words
• Magnetic letters
• Pizza pan or cookie sheet with edges
• Paper or wipe-off board to write words on

Hint:

Pans with edges work best to keep letters from sliding off and getting lost!