Spelling won't be perfect, but you can help with consistent expectations.
- If you know that your child has already learned a spelling word, make him use it correctly when he writes it. You could keep a list of known words in your house to which your child can refer. There is a list of "No Excuse" words in your child's reading log and here.
- Have your child tap out the sounds they hear in a word before they write it.
- Celebrate your child’s spelling successes regularly!
- Help your child notice word patterns. They are everywhere and knowledge of them really helps kids spell new and unfamiliar words.
- Don't just spell a word for your child when they ask for help. At this stage, students are transitioning from spelling all sounds to starting to learn some conventional spellings of common words. Your child should first attempt to spell all of the sounds they hear. This will help them know that they have responsibility in spelling the words. It will help you know what they hear and what they know about spelling patterns. If they spell a word without a sound or misuse a pattern they should know, ask them to fix it. Then, if they still need help on the word, you may do so.
- Knowledge of syllables can help your child spell better. For every syllable, there will be a vowel sound. With a new word, have them clap out the syllables first to see how many vowel sounds there are. Beware of bossy Rs (er, ar, ir, or, ur) and l-controlled vowels (table, rattle). The vowels are difficult or impossible to hear in these words, but they are still there.