How To Improve Your Kid’s Spelling

Education Specialist Cynthia Mulligan has some tips to help your kids master the art of spelling.

Here are some suggestions for how you can encourage your kids to learn the basics.

Read to them

And let them follow along in the book. Most of us are visually oriented, which means seeing the letters that form the words can make it easier to form the patterns in a youngster’s mind.

Once they’ve mastered the simple things, have them read to you, sounding out each word if necessary.

Computer use

Believe it or not, the visual world of computers can be helpful. Use a word processor program to allow your child to type out simple words and see what they look like. It’s not a video game, but if you sell it like one, they may not even realize they’re learning.

There are also several programs you can buy that create an interactive method for teaching kids the basics of spelling.

Identify words within words

Showing them a long word and letting them find a smaller one inside it will not only help them recognize the tinier words but eventually learn the bigger ones, too.

Make it a game

Kids love puzzles. Devise a simple code they have to crack in order to spell a word. They’ll have fun and learn the ‘secret’ at the same time. And let him or her make up a code for you to turn the tables.

Make a list

Going shopping? Let your child make up the list of the items you need. It’s a good way to introduce a youngster to both the idea of a supermarket as well as spelling.

And you may finally solve the all time conundrum about whether it’s ketchup or catsup.

Take a break

Kids can only concentrate for so long. Make the lessons short and sweet, but come back to them more often.

Role reversal

Let your child play teacher for you. Sometimes instructing someone else is the best way to learn yourself.

The wrong word

The Sesame Street classic ploy of ‘one of these things is not like the other’ comes into play. Write a sentence containing an incorrect word and have your child try to spot which one is wrong.

Circle the wrong word and have them put in the right one with the correct spelling.

Don’t forget phonics

Some people hate them, others swear by them. Sounding out words is the first step towards memorizing how they’re spelled.