How to help your child study spelling words

You don’t need to be a teacher to help. These five habits are simple, and none of them takes long.

1. A little every day

A few short sessions across the week tend to do more than one long one the night before. Pick a time that already happens, like after a snack, so practice doesn’t need a reminder.

2. Look, say, cover, write, check

Your child looks at the word, says it, covers it, writes it from memory, then checks. It turns copying into remembering.

3. Spell it out loud

Saying each letter in order makes every letter count, and it is how oral tests and spelling bees work. It also lets you practice in the car or at the dinner table.

4. Missed words first

Start each session with the words your child got wrong last time. When a word is right three times in a row, move it to the end.

5. Know what it means

A word is easier to spell when your child knows what it means and can use it in a sentence. Ask them to make one up.

Where SpellKitty helps

SpellKitty does steps 3, 4 and 5 for you: the kitty reads each word with its meaning, your child spells it out loud, and missed words come back in practice. Type in this week’s list, or play six spelling bee words a day.

If spelling is hard for your child

Some children find spelling much harder than their other work. If that sounds familiar, talk to their teacher; the Understood.org guides on learning differences are a good place to start.

Let the kitty read the words tonight

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