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How to help your child with spelling

TutorAura guide · Updated

The best way to help a child with spelling is short, regular practice where they try to spell the word from memory, then check it, rather than copying words out many times. Teach the patterns behind words (sounds, prefixes, suffixes and word families) so they can work out new words instead of memorising each one.

Key takeaways

  • Test, don't copy: spell from memory, then check.
  • Little and often beats one long session.
  • Teach patterns and word families, not just lists.
  • Know the statutory word lists for Years 3 to 6.

1. Look, say, cover, write, check

This classic routine works because the cover step forces recall:

  1. Look at the word and notice the tricky part.
  2. Say it aloud, maybe in syllables.
  3. Cover it.
  4. Write it from memory.
  5. Check and correct any mistake, then try again.

Writing a word ten times while looking at it is far less effective, because it doesn't involve recall.

2. Space it out

Practise this week's words for five minutes a day rather than 30 minutes the night before the test, and bring back last week's words now and then. Spacing practice out leads to better long-term memory than cramming (Cepeda et al., 2006). Our free flashcard maker handles the scheduling, and you can read the word aloud while your child writes it.

3. Teach patterns

  • Sounds: the same sound can be spelt different ways (rain, play, cake), so group words by spelling.
  • Prefixes and suffixes: un-, dis-, mis-; -ful, -less, -ly, -tion. "Unhelpful" is un + help + ful.
  • Word families: sign, signal, signature: the silent g makes sense once you see the link.
  • Rules with reasons: doubling the consonant (hop, hopping) keeps the vowel short.

4. Know the word lists

The national curriculum in England includes statutory spelling word lists for Years 3 and 4 and for Years 5 and 6 (DfE), with words such as "separate", "necessary" and "rhythm". The KS2 SATs spelling paper has 20 marks. Print the list, test a few words a week, and keep a "still learning" pile.

5 to 8: more that helps

  1. Mnemonics for tricky words: "necessary has one collar and two sleeves" (one c, two s).
  2. Read together. Children who read more meet words more often.
  3. Write for real: shopping lists, birthday cards, a diary.
  4. Praise effort and spot progress, not perfect tests.

See how to help your child with reading and, for older children, how to learn vocabulary.

When to get extra help

If spelling stays very difficult despite regular practice, especially alongside reading difficulties, talk to your child's teacher or the school's SENCo, who can check whether further assessment is needed.

A 10-minute spelling routine

  1. 2 minutes: test last week's tricky words from memory.
  2. 3 minutes: look at this week's new words together. Spot the pattern and the tricky part of each.
  3. 3 minutes: look, say, cover, write, check for each new word.
  4. 2 minutes: use two of the words in a sentence your child writes.

Keep a "still learning" list of anything spelt wrong, and bring those words back for the next few days.

Frequently asked questions

Do spelling apps help?

They can, if they make your child spell words from memory and bring back missed words later. Avoid apps that only show words to copy or tap.

Should I correct every spelling mistake in my child's writing?

Not all of them. Pick one or two words that matter most, such as common words or ones from their spelling list, and practise those. Correcting everything can put children off writing.

What is the best way to learn spellings?

Short daily sessions where your child writes each word from memory and then checks it. Look, say, cover, write, check is a simple routine that does this.

How many spellings should a child practise a day?

Five to ten words in a five- to ten-minute session is plenty for most primary children, with a few older words mixed back in.

Where can I find the Year 5 and 6 spelling list?

The statutory word lists are in the spelling appendix of the national curriculum in England English programmes of study, published by the Department for Education on GOV.UK.

Sources

  1. National curriculum in England: English programmes of study. Department for Education.
  2. Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin (Cepeda et al., 2006).

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