Spelling tests can be extremely demoralising for dyslexic children, and preparing for them can be time consuming and stressful for the whole family.
Most primary schools give students regular spelling tests. These tests can become a real ordeal and can crush dyslexics’ self-esteem. Parents can also struggle with how best to help their children with the spelling lists.
Great spelling isn’t necessary for
academic or career success
It’s consoling to know that poor spellers can thrive in academia and in future careers by using spell check functionality! I did really well academically, but my spelling is still rubbish!
Parents stressing about spelling tests, can add to their children’s anxiety, which is never helpful.
Hearing ‘Don't worry, Mummy still can't spell either' helped my children! However, to save them feeling humiliated weekly in front of their peers, I did try to help them learn their spellings. Given I had three children who were reluctant readers, I found this very time-consuming. Most people hate doing what they are bad at!
TECHNOLOGY CAN TRANSFORM HOW CHILDREN PREPARE FOR SPELLING TESTS
Fortunately, technology can offer a range of extremely helpful solutions to learn and test spellings which then frees up parents. The best IT solution for your child depends on the:
student’s age
device they have to work on - iPad, laptop, PC, Mac, etc
budget (I have found a number of FREE options)
I've put together a summary of some of the technologies available to help. I must add, however, that these solutions should complement and not entirely replace traditional learning methods.
Traditional pen & paper techniques
There is still HUGE value in the 'look, say, cover, write, check' method of learning spellings, no matter how much more appealing playing games on a tablet or computer can be to children.
Technology is fun and may save time, but research shows that writing by hand engages the brain in learning and that neural activity is far more enhanced when children are printing by hand.
For more information click here.
NEURAL ACTIVITY IS ENHANCED WHEN CHILDREN PRINT BY HAND
Unfortunately, my own children got bored with traditional techniques VERY quickly!
Unless I was physically with them -
forcing the looking
doing the covering
saying the letters
testing them
they would NOT do it, regardless of what the research said.
It helped my sanity to find IT games that they could play to help them learn their weekly spelling lists. As they enjoyed the games, they did improve their weekly spelling scores.
I simply had to find the time to input each of their spellings each week. I had them in the kitchen on their devices as I prepared dinner.
Would you like to know more about the games I found helped my children with spelling?
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