How to help your child with spelling

The look-say-cover-write-check method

Look at the word, say it aloud, cover it, write it from memory, then check. This multi-sensory approach engages visual, auditory and kinaesthetic memory simultaneously. It works because it forces active recall rather than passive recognition.

Teach word families and patterns

English spelling is more patterned than people think. Group words by pattern: '-tion' endings, 'ei' vs 'ie', silent letters, doubling rules. Learning ten words within one pattern is easier than learning ten unrelated words.

Build vocabulary through reading

Children who read daily are constantly exposed to correct spelling, and this passive exposure is powerful. Children who rarely read will always find spelling harder, no matter how many tests they do.

For children who genuinely struggle

If a child is trying hard and still struggling significantly, consider whether there might be an underlying reason (dyslexia, processing speed, visual stress). Talk to the school's SENCo, and consider an assessment. Meanwhile, a patient one-to-one tutor can adapt strategies to the child's specific learning profile.

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