Learning how to spell words consistently and correctly can be a challenge for young children. Understanding how to match letter combinations with the sounds they make and identifying words requires both memorization and regular practice. When children struggle with spelling in school, reinforcing spelling skills at home can help improve spelling and reading ability. Health Guidance recommends choosing fun activities and topics that interest your child to avoid making learning how to spell a boring task.
Step 1
Teach your child to trace words with fingers or a pencil. Tracing words allows your child to understand the forms and shapes that make up letters. The Child Development Institute suggests using finger paints to trace letters and words.
Step 2
Buy your child easy-to-read books. Seeing basic words over and over again can help your child learn to memorize words. Look for books that feature stories or topics that interest him.
Step 3
Read aloud to your child and point to each word as you read. Pointing to the words helps your child associate the way the words sound with the way they look.
Step 4
Label items in your house to help your child learn how to spell common words. Write the names of things in your house on index cards and tape the cards to the corresponding items.
Step 5
Ask your child to pronounce each word on her spelling list before she tries to spell it. Correct the pronunciation if it is wrong. If a child does not pronounce a word correctly, she will try to spell it the way she pronounces it rather than the correct way, according to the Child Development Institute.
Step 6
Tell your child to read road signs while you are in the car. Make the activity a game by announcing that whoever finds the most stop signs or gas station signs wins.
Step 7
Give your child a notebook and ask him to write each spelling word three times. Writing the words will help him remember which letters make up the word.
Step 8
Work on words that begin with the same consonants or sounds on the same day. Grouping words by common sounds will help your child work on mastering the sound without being confused by other words that don’t contain the sound.
Tips and Warnings
- Ask your child to dictate short stories to you. Print the dictated stories in large, easy-to-read letters and ask your child to illustrate the story if she desires. Read the story together and then ask the child to read the story to you. Although the child may not initially recognize words, she will eventually learn to match memorized words with the words written on the page, according to Education.com.
- The Child Development Institute recommends avoiding overwhelming your child by breaking spelling practice into several 15-minute sessions throughout the day.
Things You'll Need
- Pencil
- Easy-to-read books
- Index cards
- Tape
- Notebook
