How to Teach Spelling

The program is not as important as the approach

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How to teach spelling is a lesson-planning mindset that takes any of the curricula available on the market (and there's plenty) and reinforces it with basic practices. These practices are designed to "implant" words and spelling patterns as quickly as possible. They are based upon multiple approaches to instruction that take advantage of how our brains work.

Any curriculum that your district makes available, or that you find on the internet, will have these similarities:

Words that are "core" for particular grade levels
Words that are grouped by rule

...and, fundamentally, there's not much else to distinguish them. Yes, some programs move beyond memorization and go to extra lengths to place words in context, but their foundation of how to teach spelling remains core words and rules.

Basics: Kindergarten Spelling to 6th Grade

Ask any non-native English speaker: The rules of English are crazy!

How to teach spelling - word lists Words, words and more words...

It's an expressive but difficult language. Fortunately, as noted above, there are rules that group the craziness into categories that help students learn patterns.

Our ultimate goal is instant recognition; words need to look "right," just like "4 + 4" or "4 x 2" should not send a student to his fingers for calculating after attaining mastery.

The key to how to teach spelling is practicing words and spelling patterns from multiple approaches until they are imprinted.

NOTE: Every time a child practices a word wrong, in any content area, the process of imprinting is delayed.

Repetition does not mean "skill and drill"

Here are the multiple learning channels for kids' spelling mastery:

Visualizing. Seeing the words is a critical step in the imprinting process. We are all strongly visual learners; taking a mental picture helps children remember spelling patterns.

Verbalizing. Speaking words out loud, both alone and in sentences, reinforces the context of their usage and implants another "hook" in the memory bank.

Manipulating. Compiling the words into sorted groups triggers pattern-recognition circuits in the brain. There's something about using our hands to move objects (including words on cards) around that involves different neural circuitry.

Collaborating. Actively working with their assigned student partners (which can be combined with manipulating/sorting) is another potent reinforcer. The partners talk about the words as they group them by pattern. Keep in mind that the pattern doesn't matter as much as the action of grouping; after following the rule of the week, I've had partners sort words based on personal preference. The point is they are talking, memorizing word meanings and proper spelling. Besides, it's fun to watch the debates!

Personal spelling word lists. As in any subject area, each student will have "sticking points" with certain words. These words end up on their individual list. This list is pulled out for practice during spare moments or used as a personal resource during writing.

How to Teach Spelling? Consistency, application, reinforcement

Does this sound overly complicated? you'll find that it isn't. Being organized with your lesson plans will quickly transform this activity into a regular routine that the kids know by heart since they repeat it every week.

The articles in this spelling section will help with that.

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