Spelling

We had a great question from a tutor on a recent tutoring report, so I thought I'd post it here with my response:

Question: I'm not sure how to help [my student] improve his spelling. Word-by-word he learns quickly, but he is really memorizing the way the word looks as a picture. So when he tries to spell it some time after we last reviewed it, it's shaped right but spelled oddly. How do I help him associate meaning of letters within the word rather than the word as a picture?

Great question!

Answer: I found some great tips on the web site Spelling It Right - Learn How to Spelling Confidently. Here are a few ideas:

To improve and develop their spelling, you need to:

• develop an interest in words
• feel safe about trying new words (not just words you're sure about)
• learn about
  the way words are built up using syllables
  basic spelling patterns of English
  memorizing strategies
  the meanings of words
  prefixes and suffixes
• write for their own enjoyment without the fear that they will be criticized
• read for pleasure

Tutors can help their students by:

• encouraging them to look closely at words and talking to them about words
• encouraging them to try new words
• playing word games with them, such as:
• hangman Click here for some interactive hangman games
• Boggle
• Scrabble
• encouraging effective memorizing strategies
• encouraging good reading/writing posture
  sitting up - eyes 12 to 18 inches away from the work
  forearms making a triangle with the torso insist upon it (friendly nagging if necessary!)
• encouraging spare time reading
• pointing out interesting newspaper items
• respecting "good mistakes" - those which use letter patterns which do make the right sound, even though they are not right for that particular word. So, for "purpose":
  "purpus" would be a good guess - like "focus"
  "prupose" would be a less good guess
• ensuring a dictionary is on hand for homework

One of my personal favorite ways to teach spelling is using the LOOK - THINK - COVER - WRITE - CHECK method (I used this with my son and it worked wonders).

LOOK carefully at the new word. How can youbreak it into smaller bits? Do any of the smallerbits remind you of the patterns of letters fromother words?

THINK about the parts of the words which mightcause problems - double letters for instance, or avowel that isn't pronounced as you would expect.

COVER the word and close your eyes. Try to see itin your mind's eye.

WRITE the word down without looking back.

CHECK to see if you're right. If not, look carefully at where you went wrong and try again.More

Hot Tips
Whenever you have to copy a new word from theblackboard, from a book, or from the dictionary, alwaystry to write the whole word in one go. Don't keep looking back after every few letters.

Try finger-writing: while you're THINKing about the word, pretend to write it with your finger, on your desk or on your hand or even "paint" it on the wall in front of you.