Spelling is a visual skill. When you encounter a tricky spelling, you usually try to picture it in your mind. The ‘Spellings for Me’ programme emphasises the visual aspect of spelling. Some of the strategies we use include:
1. Look at where you went wrong in the word. Write the word correctly and highlight that part of the word or write that part using a different colour pen.
2. Draw a visual memory aid (picture) on the word.
3. Now write a sentence that will help you remember the correct spelling.
4. Make a mnemonic to help you remember the word. e.g Big elephants can’t always understand small elephants (because)
5. For exanple, the word is ‘interesting’. If you wrote intresting then you would need to highlight the start of the word ‘inter’. If you wrote interesing then you would focus on the end of the word ‘sting’. In the first example you could draw a few zzzz and highlight REST. The sentence could be: It was interesting to have a rest.
6. Use magnetic letters on a fridge to make the word. Mix it up and start again.
7. Use scrabble letters to make your words.
10. Review words regularly. Repetition is key. Eventually the correct spelling will be automatic.