Easy Tips to Help Your Child Improve Their Spelling

Sweet Success on Spelling Tests

Week after week your child brings home a long list of spelling words. If spelling does not come easily to your youngster, you probably spend a considerable amount of time every night from Monday until Friday attempting to engrain those words into the depths of your child's brain. If both you and your child are tired of the same routine, check out these fun and easy tips to success in spelling.

Teachers and parents agree that practice makes perfect. Rather than cramming for the test late Thursday night, try spreading out the task. Spend a little time each evening with your child practicing spelling.

Children learn in different ways. Try to use different techniques to find out what works best for your child. Flash cards may be a great idea. Encourage the student to write each word on a note card or slip of paper. As the child writes each letter, have him or her say the letter's name out loud. Upon completion of the card, she or he should say the word aloud.

Hold a spelling bee at home. Maybe the night before the scheduled spelling test, you and your child can have a spelling bee. Use the spelling words for the week in a sentence. Then say the word. Your child will enjoy seeing his or her progress from earlier in the week. Reward your child's success with a certificate, sticker, or other special treat.

Small tasks are easier to overcome. Divide the daunting list of words into smaller portions that seem easier to handle. If the student brings home a list of fifteen spelling words each week, then Monday night practice only the first five words on the list. Tuesday evening focus solely on the next five words. Complete the last five words on the list Wednesday night. Use Thursday evening for a spelling bee or an overall review of the words. Your child will undoubtedly see five words as much more manageable than a large list of fifteen.