Despite phonics being taught effectively at many schools, spellings remain an issue. In fact, in my experience, due to the dominance of phonics teaching, some children only have this as a spelling strategy to draw upon in later school years.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not calling to abolish synthetic phonics: I understand how supportive it is when teaching children to read and write but I also want the teaching of spellings after phonics to be as embedded for the children that I teach, so that they have many strategies to draw upon when they learn and attempt new words.

I haven't got a quick fix, but I have a list of ideas that, if consistently taught well, will most definitely show children that words are important. Important to use in their every day lives, in their writing and important enough to spell correctly.

Here's my list:

  1. Give time each day (linked to context/ core text) to learn new, unfamiliar words. I use some words of the day ideas gathered from Vocabulary Ninja and other research. The 5-10 minute session is simple, repetitive but fast and fun for the children. The words appear in their next piece of writing and better still they are spelt correctly.
  2. Allow children to investigate English language. Every Monday, the children explore a new spelling rule and are in charge of looking for patterns in language. Lots of discussion and analysis of words, misconceptions removed instantly with verbal feedback in a short discrete spelling session allows children to identify rules and exceptions to rules.
  3. Once the children know the rule being investigated, they have 10-15 minute sessions daily developing strategies to support their retention of these words and the rule learnt. They use spelling journals and each session have a different activity (rainbow writing, dictionary definition, silly sentences, colourful consonants, mnemonics to name a few).
  4. Revisit previous teaching regularly. In each spelling session, I start with a recap of another rule. This doesn't take long but is crucial to support retention of their learning.
  5. Spelling homework! Children learn their rule words in 2 different ways. They are given a look, cover, write, check sheet (after being taught how to use this most effectively- never assume a previous teacher taught them) which also have additional activity ideas attached. These are taken in each week. Parent mails are sent out if a child hasn't returned it, dojos if they have. The second way we encourage is the use of Spelling Shed, which my lovely TA updates weekly with the new activities. Keeping spelling lists current and promoting as a school will definitely promote a love for spelling for the competitive children.
  6. Dare I say it, testing. The rule that children have been learning is tested in a weekly test and then again in a termly test ( this allows us to monitor progress, see retention of rules and see which rules may need more time investing in with specific groups of children).
  7. When children are editing and revising written work, teachers need to model how to use spelling strategies to correct errors. Use of a visualiser or mirroring technology on a tablet, works well for this. I often look for commonly misspelt words in their work and add that 'incorrectly' into my WAGOLL or use a copy of a child's work.
  8. Encouraging a 'have a go' atmosphere in the classroom. Show children that you are willing to try different ways before settling on the correct spelling but also when a child says those inevitable words: " How do you spell such and such. " put the onus on them to try using taught strategies on a whiteboard or in a vocabulary book. Focus on the correct parts then show them how to correct the errors.
  9. I've just mentioned vocabulary books. These, used well, become a child's personalised dictionary. A word unsure of spelling...try in your vocabulary books, a word learnt in a spelling lesson...put it in your vocabulary books...a new word learnt in word of the day or during a lesson, you get the picture...put it in your vocabulary books. Then use them in any writing sessions. When you're writing alongside the children ask them to find a word in their vocabulary books...if it's not in there encourage to add it and if it is it's a race to help the teacher spell.
  10. When giving whole class feedback, utilise a part for spellings. You may not be able to focus on all of them but can allow children to identify their own errors and allows you to focus on a common error to be taught in focus groups or as a class. I use a page on my notebook for just this reason.
  11. Crucially allow yourself to be seen making mistakes in front of the class, that it's ok to not always be correct but key to this show how you learn from your mistakes. It allows children to feel confident and comfortable to try, to value their mistakes and most importantly learn from them.

This list is in no way the finished article nor is it going to cure the spelling epidemic in schools but it is the beginning of a journey to help each child value words in all their glory.