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Tips for learning spellings at home
Look, say,
cover, write,
check
This is probably the most common strategy used to learn spellings.
Look: first look at the whole word carefully and if there is one part of the word that is difficult, look
at that part in more detail.
Say: say the word as you look at it, using different ways of pronouncing it if that will make it more
memorable.
Cover: cover the word.
Write: write the word from memory, saying the word as you do so.
Check: Have you got it right? If yes, try writing it again and again! If not, start again – look, say, cover,
write, check.
Trace, copy
and replicate
(and then
check)
This is a similar learning process to ‘look, say, cover, write, check’ but is about developing
automaticity and muscle memory.
Write the word out on a sheet of paper ensuring that it is spelt correctly and it is large enough to
trace over. Trace over the word and say it at the same time. Move next to the word you have just
written and write it out as you say it. Turn the page over and write the word as you say it, and then
check that you have spelt it correctly.
If this is easy, do the same process for two different words at the same time. Once you have written
all your words this way and feel confident, miss out the tracing and copying or the tracing alone and
just write the words.
Quickwrite
Drawing
around the
word to show
the shape
Words
without
vowels
Writing the words linked to the teaching focus with speed and fluency. The aim
is to write as many words as possible within a time constraint.
Pupils can write words provided by the teacher or generate their own examples. For example, in
two minutes write as many words as possible with the /iː/ phoneme.
This can be turned into a variety of competitive games including working in teams and developing
relay race approaches.
Draw around the words making a clear distinction in
size where there are ascenders and descenders.
Look carefully at the shape of the word and the letters
in each box. Now try to write the word making sure
that you get the same shape.
This strategy is useful where the vowel choices are the challenge in the words.
Write the words without the vowels and pupils have to choose the correct
grapheme to put in the space. For example, for the word field:
This method of learning words forces you to think of each letter separately.
Pyramid
words
Drawing an
image
around the
word
Other
strategies
You can then reverse the process so that you end up with a diamond.
This strategy is all about making a word memorable. It links to meaning
in order to try to make the spelling noticeable.
You can’t use this method as your main method of learning spellings, but
it might work on those that are just a little more difficult to remember.
Other methods can include:
• Making up memorable ‘silly sentences’ containing the word
• Saying the word in a funny way – for example, pronouncing the ‘silent’ letters in a word
• Clapping and counting to identify the syllables in a word.
Even more ideas!
UPPER and lower
Write your spelling words
two times each.
First, write each word in UPPERCASE
letters. Second, write each word in
lowercase letters.
*Example - THESE these
Play Ball
Decide which word you are going to
spell. Throw a ball with a partner.
Every time you throw it, say the next
letter of the word until you have spelt
it out. Play again.
Pyramid Power
Sort your words into a list from easiest
to hardest. Write the easiest word at
the top of the page near the middle.
Write the next easiest word twice
underneath. Write the third word
three times underneath again until
you have built your pyramid
Backwards Words
Write your spelling words forwards
and then backwards. Write neatly!
Example: these eseht
Three Times
Write each spelling word three times.
First, write each word in pencil.
Secondly, write each word in crayon.
Third, write each word in marker.
Consonant Circle
Write each of your spelling words.
Then go back and circle all of the
consonants in your words!
Squiggly Spelling Words
Write your spelling words two times.
First write in regular letters. Then
write the words again in squiggly
letters!
Connect the Dots
Write your spelling words in dots.
Then connect the dots by tracing over
them with a coloured pencil.
Blue Vowels
Write each of your spelling words.
You will need a blue coloured pencil.
Trace over the vowels in each word
with your blue coloured pencil.
Vowels = a e i o u
Colourful Words
Write each letter of your spelling
words using a different coloured
pencil.
Back Write
Use your finger to spell out each of
your spelling words, one letter at a
time, on your mum or dad’s back.
Then it’s YOUR turn to try to FEEL and
spell!
Colourful Words:
Use two different coloured pens to
write your words. One to write the
consonants and one to write the
vowels. Do this a couple of times then
write the whole word in one colour.
Choo-Choo-Words
Write the entire spelling list end-toend as one long word (like a train).
Use a different coloured crayon for
each word.
Ex. hopmopestopdrop
Spell-er-cize
Pretend you are a cheerleader and
call out the letters of your words!
Cheer up high for letters that touch
the top handwriting line (ex. t and l),
hands on hips for middle letters (ex. a
and e), and cheer down low for low
letters (Ex. y and j).
Across and Down
Write each of your spelling words
across and then down
(starting with the first letter).
*Examples- w h e n
h
e
n
Squared Up
Draw a large square filling your page.
Write your words in it, around the
edge. Keep going until you get to the
middle!
Type ‘em
Type your spelling words on the
computer. Make each word have a
different font or colour.
Words within words
Write each spelling word and then
write at least two words made from
the same letters that is hidden inside
the word. Example: slide
side lie lid led
Other Handed
First write your spelling words the way
you usually do it.
Then, try writing the list with your
other hand!
Words without Consonants
Write your spelling words on a list, but
replace all the consonants with a line.
Then go back to the beginning of your
list and see if you can fill in the correct
missing consonants.
Hop Scotch Words
Make a hopscotch board on your
pavement or driveway with chalk.
Write letters instead of numbers and
HOP your words!
Sign Your Words
Use sign language finger spelling to sign the spelling of your words.
Look at http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-sign-the-alphabet-using-british-sign-language
to learn how to sign the alphabet – if you can sign me three of your spelling words, you will get a housepoint!