I Spell, You Spell: Encouraging Invented Spelling

Just the other day, my mom reminded me of an activity that I modified and used in the classroom to encourage invented spelling (click on this link if you’re unsure of invented spelling or why it is important to literacy development).

I’ve named the activity I Spell You Spell (click to download) and it encourages young spellers to use their word knowledge to invent their own spellings; which can increase phonemic awareness, independence, and confidence.

For the directions and examples, see the photos below:

directions-enlarged so you can read them

Student Spelling Chart

As with anything, you will want to model several times how to do this before you place this chart in the child’s independent writing folder/area.  And the emphasis is on encouragment, as you talk with the child about what he did right when he invented his own spellings.

I really like this activity because it helped my students think about the sounds they heard in words, making them more indepedent and confident spellers.  As the school year progressed (for Kindergarten and first grade), I was amazed at how close the invented spellings became to the conventional spellings!  I am very excited to try it out with ALuv (almost 7 years old).

Click here to download I Spell You Spell

~Becky