If you need a little help for teaching kids spelling, you’re in the right place!
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Do kids really need to learn how to spell, even in the stage of spell check? This is a question I am asked often. My answer is a resounding YES!
Teaching Kids Spelling
Not only is spell check limited, teaching kids spelling actually helps solidify some of those phonics rules and patterns they need for reading.
You can read more about why teaching spelling is so vital in my two articles: Why Teaching Reading Is NOT Enough and 5 Ways Teaching Spelling Helps Readers.
When it comes to teaching spelling, I highly recommend the word study approach, where learners focus more on patterns that words share {because English IS more predictable than you’d think} rather than all the exceptions.
Spelling is developmental. That means if you look at the natural spellings of an early Kindergartner, it’s going to look very different from the spellings of a fifth grader. My ebook, Teaching Kids to Spell, talks about these stages of development in-depth.
And all the discussions about spelling you might hear about Invented Spelling? Check out why I think it can be good, bad, AND ugly!
One VERY popular post over the years gives plenty of help for teaching kids spelling in hands-on and fun ways!
My Printable Spelling Games and Activities Pack has also been a favorite of readers.
If you’re looking for all my spelling freebies, you’ll find everything I have on our Spelling and Word Study Printables Page.
Help for Teaching Struggling Spellers
Spelling is actually harder than reading because we have to remember the exact letters AND order for spelling. And spelling doesn’t come easily for all our learners.
Some learners struggle greatly with spelling. And for those of us who are naturally good at it, it can be difficult to figure out where to begin teaching it.
That’s one of the reasons I love All About Spelling for struggling spellers. It teaches spelling down to the letter level and takes all the guessing out of spelling. I’ve seen it used in the classroom I’ve used it at home, too.
You might also enjoy these articles and helpful printables for teaching struggling spellers:
Enjoy teaching!
~Becky