How to Teach a Child to Spell

Helping children master spelling is a challenge. But, using a few simple techniques will reinforce key thought processes that make spelling easy.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Patience
• Imagination
• Pencil and paper (or a DS chat channel)

1. Choose a word with a common spelling pattern, such as "book". The point is to reinforce the pattern of spelling in a variety of words, graduating from one syllable, to consonant blends, to multi-syllable words containing the same pattern.

2. Ask the child to write the word, correcting the spelling if necessary. It is important for the spelling correction to be non-confrontational - the child should not perceive it as a mistake on his/her part. The spelling session should be seen as a game, rather than "homework".

3. Suggest 3 more words with the same spelling pattern: hook, look, took.

4. Next, choose words that have the same spelling pattern, but contain a consonant blend: brook, crook, shook.

5. Finally, choose some two-syllable words that contain the same spelling pattern: booklet, overlook, cookie.

Tips & Warnings

• Discuss the meaning of the words, or use the words in a sentence that the child will understand. Better yet, ask the child to use each word in a sentence.
• Focus on just one spelling pattern per session.
• If there are alternate pronunciations of a particular spelling pattern (i.e., "spook", or "kook"), it will be fun to use such words as bonus points.
• If possible, match the spelling pattern to a word from the child's spelling list from school.
• Keep the words simple and familiar.
• Keep the sessions short, but frequent.

[Devero]

on 1/2/2009 Good advice, teaching similar words at once.

[offgrid]

on 1/2/2009 Hey thanks - makes me think of Dr Suess. Cat in the Hat with a Bat on a mat etc etc.. Good advice. It works.