Spelling Tips - Help Improve My Child’s Spelling

TutorGiant.com

Spelling is a skill that takes time to master.  Students must have a strong understanding of the structure of simple words and word patterns before they can spell more complex words.

It’s never too late for students to learn how to spell at their grade level; all they need are some consistent spelling strategies that they can use.

Before reading the following, it can’t be stressed enough that one of the keys to becoming a good speller is to become a good reader.  It isn’t a mystery that all the studies show that proficient readers are excellent spellers.  That is, students who read regularly, have a vocabulary about 10 times greater than students who rarely read.  It is obvious that the more a student sees a word (i.e. repeated sight of words via. reading), the more likely he/she is to spell it correctly.

Here are some ways that you can help your child become a better speller.

1. Have younger students ‘physically’ spell words. 

    Young children are tactile learners.  They learn best when they

    can use their bodies to learn.  You can fill up a baking pan with

    salt or sugar.  

2.  Obtain a list of ‘word families’.  You can find word family lists

     online or at your local education store.  Word families are

     groups of words that have similar beginnings, endings, or

     patterns.  This will help your child gain a better understanding

     of word patterns which will result in better spelling.

3.  Junior students can improve their spelling skills by creating

     a ‘spelling dictionary’.  Have your child take an unused

     workbook and write each letter of the alphabet on the top

     of each page.  Your child can use this ‘spelling dictionary’ by

     writing down misspelled words on the appropriate page (for

     example, if your child misspells the word ‘activity’, he should

     write ‘activity’ on the page with an ‘A’ at the top).  Have

     your child review his/her spelling dictionary on a weekly basis.

The above strategies must be complemented by an increased amount of reading time.  Try to have your child read books from different genres (e.g. history, fiction, science) to ensure that he/she experiences reading genre specific words (words that are unique to specific types of books).

©Tutorgiant.com