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Spelling is a challenge for many people. According to Joshi et al (2008), this is largely due to the way spelling is taught today.

Most people alive today were taught to spell through an assigned weekly spelling list and a spelling test of Friday. Most people learned to memorize their spelling words just well enough to pass the test and then forget them by the next week.

More importantly, people who learn to spell this way often never learn to identify the misspelled words in their everyday writing.

Rather than focusing on a weekly list of words that you may or may not already know, focus on the words you know you don't know.

Gentry (2007) tells us that meaningful writing is the best way to learn how to spell better. Start by writing something, anything. Rather than focusing on spelling or handwriting, just write what is in your head.

Then have someone proofread your work. You can also use the computer and type with the spellchecker turned off. Then use the spellchecker to find the words you misspelled. Once you have identified the words you want to use but can't spell, you'll have your own spelling list to work with.

Now use a dictionary or the Internet to learn more about your words. Find what language the word came from, and see if you can identify any parts of the word that show the origin. For example, words that use ph to make an f sound are from the Greek language.

Next, look for some words that are similar to your words in some way. You may find words that begin or end in the same way. You may find groups of vowels or consonants that many words have in common. Try to come up with a short list of words that go with the problem word, like catapult, catacomb, cataract, catalog, cataclysm.

Some people need to use a multi-sensory approach to learn to spell difficult words. You can try stamping out your words with letter stamps and an ink pad. You can write them with your fingers in shaving cream or in the sand at the beach. You can use clay to form the letters, or write them in sidewalk chalk on your driveway.

You can spell your words out loud to music or even make up your own song. You can divide your words into syllables and write each syllable on an index card, then try to put the words back together again. You can have someone write out the first half of each word, and then try to write the rest yourself.

Keep working on your writing; write at least something every day. Any writing is good writing — shopping lists, letters, notes to a friend, songs and poems and stories, and even comics. Find something you enjoy writing, and keep working on it to improve your spelling.

REFERENCES

Gentry, JR 2007, 'Spelling Counts,' Scholastic, New York, NY.

Joshi, R M, Treiman, R, Carreker, S, Moats, L C 2008, 'The Real Magic of Spelling,' American Educator, Winter 2008-2009, p 9.