Spelling Notebook

• Purchase a spiral notebook. Label it with your child’s name. Divide the notebook into the following sections:
  • Two to three pages (26 sections) for each letter of the alphabet.
  • 10 pages for Homophones: Homonyms are the source of many spelling errors. (two, and too; its and it’s; and there, they’re, and their).
  • Allow your child to decorate the cover or simply label it ___________’s Spelling Notebook

Spelling Lists

• Each time you notice a misspelled word in a student’s written work, write the word on a list for the student. (this list is for the teacher)
• Create a list of spelling words to practice from your child’s notebook.
• If you want additional spelling list see the following
  • Everyday Spelling Lists (Grades K-8)
  • All About Spelling (Grades 1-7)
  • EduPlace Spelling Lists (Grades 1-6)
  • KidsSpell.com (over 400 lists)
  • Time4Learning.com Spelling Lists

Spelling Practice

• Have your child say the word while looking at it.
• Have your child close his eyes, try to see the word, and then spell the word out loud.
• Have your child look at the written word to see if he’s spelled it out loud correctly.
• Have your child look at the word, then cover the word and have him write it.
• Have your child check to see if he’s written the word correctly. If the word is misspelled, all four steps should be repeated before moving on to the next word.
• Look for patterns in mistakes – (i.e. Does he/she leave off the silent e? Does he/she confuse homophones? Does he/she have problems with plurals? Does he/she know when to change Y to ie? ).
• Go over any spelling rules that will help using a writing handbook.

Optional Spelling Games

For reinforcement you may want to try spelling games. We love to play Tap Words app on my Itouch (a lot like Boggle & free!). Check descriptions and reviews for approximate age levels.Be sure not to choose a game that may frustrate your child. The Amazon games are minimum 4-5 stars.

• Tap Word (ITouch or IPhone)
• Pressman Spelling Bee Bingo(Amazon)
• I Spy Word Scramble Game(Amazon)
• ThinkFun What’s Gnu(Amazon)
• Bananagrams
  (Amazon)
• Scrabble Crossword Game
  (Amazon)
• Scrabble Junior (Amazon)
• Scrabble Slam Cards
  (Amazon)
• Scrabble Express
  (Amazon)
• ThinkFun Smart Mouth(Amazon)
• FLY Through™ Spelling
• Boggle (Amazon)
• Boggle Jr. Game(Amazon)
• LeapFrog: Turbo Twist Spelling(Amazon- used)
• 4 Way Spelldown Wooden Game
• Spelling City (Online)
• FunBrain Spell Check (online)

Spelling Tests

• Use the spelling list created in spelling practice to test your student.
• Give the test verbally and on paper.
• Have your child write any misspelled words correctly three to five times.
• If the word is again misspelled in written work, the student must add it to his/her Spelling Notebook. Remember to add misspelled words that the spell-checker finds in work written using a word processor.
• If a word is continually misspelled have the student copy the spelling rule into the spelling notebook. If the word is an exception to the rule have them copy the rule with the exception.

Spelling Rules

If you are using a writing guide such as Writers Inc: A Student Handbook for Writing and Learning or Writer’s Express: A Handbook for Young Writers, Thinkers & Learners
they contain detailed list of all spelling rules. If not keep the following on hand:

16 Most Common Spelling Rules

• 1. To make the long E sound at the ends of words use Y, EY, or IE. (E at the end of words is usually silent.)
• 2. C or K? At the beginning of a syllable use K before I and E. At the beginning of a syllable use C before A, O, or U.
• 3. C, CK, K, or KE?
  • Use CK at the end of a syllable with a SHORT vowel sound and no other consonants following the vowel. (examples: duck, pick)
  • Use K at the end of a syllable with a short vowel sound and a consonant following the vowel. (examples: ask, bank)
  • Use KE at the end of a syllable with a long vowel sound. (example: cake, bake) Use just K if there are two vowels working together to make the long vowel sound. (example: seek)
  • C is sometimes used in words that have two syllables and end in IC. (examples music, panic, picnic, magic)
• 4. J, G, GE, or DGE?
  • In the beginning of words, G or J can be used to spell the “J” sound before I, E, or Y. G is used more often.
  • J must be used before A, O, or U in the beginning of words.
  • Use GE or DGE to make the “J” sound at the ends of a syllable or word.
  • Use DGE at the end of a syllable with a short vowel sound if the “J” sound immediately follows the vowel, (example: fudge, gadget, edge); otherwise use GE (example: sponge, age)
• 5. In one syllable words ending in L, F, and S, we often double them. (example: will, dress, puff)
• 6. Use VE at the ends of words. You never see a word end in V.
• 7. Use ED to make the “D”, “T” or “ED” sound in verbs.
• 8. QU is a pair. Q is not found alone.
• 9. SH is used at the beginning of a word, or the end of a syllable. SH is NOT used at the beginning of a syllable after the first syllable.
• 10. SE or CE? Words ending in the “S” sound will often use SE or CE even with SHORT vowel sounds.
  • CE is used for words with a long vowel words ending in the “S” sound.
  • SE or CE can be used for short vowel words ending in the “S” sound.
• 11. Doubling consonants in the middle of words. Often you will see the consonant doubled in the middle of words with two syllables and short vowel sounds in both syllables. (example: little, pattern, gossip)
• 12. SION or TION or CIAN are used to spell the “shun” sound at the ends of words.
  • Use SION when the root word ends in S or D.
  • Use CIAN for root words that have to do with people. (example: musician, magician)
  • Use TION for everything else.
• 13. Doubling final consonant.
  • When a short vowel word with one syllable ends with one consonant, double the final consonant before adding the vowel suffix. (example: run, running). Do not double it if there is more than one consonant. (example: camp, camping)
  • In a two syllable word, double the final consonant, if the accent is on the last syllable. (example: permitting)
• 14. Change the Y at the end of a word to I when adding a suffix except when adding ING. (example: funny, funnier)
• 15. Drop the silent E from a word when adding a vowel suffix.
• 16. If a word ends in GE or CE you must keep the silent E before adding a vowel suffix that ends in A, O, or U.

Looking up each word can be difficult. “How can I look it when I don’t know how to spell it?”student’s complain. It may be helpful to have a dictionary that allows you to look up the word by sound. In these dictionaries, words are listed as they sound (allowances are made for common mispronunciations) and correct spelling is given. The following books are available on Amazon for under $2.00:

• Random House Webster’s Pocket Bad Speller’s Dictionary
• How To Spell It (Clear and Simple)

If students turn in work over and over with the same words misspelled, you may need to become more firm.

Businesses and corporations are faced with employees who cannot spell, and use different methods for correcting these problems.
One effective example, although it’s a bit extreme, is used by the Orlando Police Department. When I was a police officer in training I was required to write lengthy reports (back and front of a page in ink) that were turned in to my sergeant for review. The sergeant reviews the report with a red pen, circling any misspelled words. One error results in the officer rewriting the entire report (back and front). As a trainee officer I quickly learn ed to carry a pocket dictionary and carefully proofread each report.

I am not suggesting that you use this approach; you don’t want to discourage writing. But you can modify this approach by allowing students to use erasable ink. Hand back papers with spelling mistakes and ask for corrections.

Encourage students to proofread aloud, always with pencil or pen in hand, and to proofread backwards.
For more information on this topic read “Steps to Become a Better Speller,” “Spelling Rules,” and “Commonly Misspelled Word List” in Writers INC.

Internet Sources

• Poor Spelling? It Could Be a Brain Problem : Robin’s Blog
• Spelling Help for Bad Spellers -A number of things you can do to improve spelling.
  
• Spelling Help and Learning New Words

Books on Spelling

• Spelling Made Simple
• Better Spelling in 30 Minutes a Day
• Teaching Kids to Spell For Dummies

Commonly Misspelled Words