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Original poster

"Schools don't know the best way to teach spellings"

63 replies

leaderofthelittles · 31/03/2023 21:39

This was said to me by my DC7 teacher, she said weekly spelling tests don't work, the children learn them that week for a test and then forget them. Our school don't send home spellings or do tests. Unsurprisingly my DC7 and 10 can not spell!

Does anyone know what the magic is? How can I teach spellings at home?

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Wolfiefan · 31/03/2023 21:40

How much do they read?

Moopsi · 31/03/2023 21:41

Reading is the best way to learn spellings. Our primary school has stopped doing them as well as weekly spelling tests don't help very much at all.

gogohmm · 31/03/2023 21:41

Reading is the answer.

carriedout · 31/03/2023 21:42

Reading x 100

Plus fun mnemonics for the tricky ones.

sweatynoob · 31/03/2023 21:42

Absolutely- reading.

spelling tests are an old fashioned pointless tool for spelling learning

There are lots of apps that focus on reading skills to improve spellings.

carriedout · 31/03/2023 21:43

I'm glad schools are finally cottoning on. Academic research on this has been clear for yonks.

owiz · 31/03/2023 21:46

Interesting, our school doesn't do spelling tests (although they equally don't get us to monitor reading at home which I don't agree with) my son gets sent weekly spellings, I put them in spelling shed and I do test him end of the week just for my own piece of mind (and to get him to write them) but I can see the logic that reading is the best way to spell, I do it still as an adult if I come across words I'm not used to writing!

Original poster
leaderofthelittles · 31/03/2023 21:47

That's interesting. Im pleased the school are moving with the evidence.

They are both reading absolutely loads but still spelling is an issue

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pickledandpuzzled · 31/03/2023 21:52

It comes more slowly to some. They all learn their own strategies.

The best way is to be sure they know it matters, that they can be lifelong learners and don't have to give up because it's hard right now.
Model using spell checkers when you are unsure of a word.
Encourage them to have pride in well spelled work, and to check what they are uncertain of.

I quite like 'spot the error' games. And any spelling game, really. Wordle, those dice games..l

At some point the Penny will drop and it will get easier.

AuroraCake · 01/04/2023 03:28

Schools have always…since it became apparent in research…that spellings are useless but have always needed to be done to ensure parents feel they are helping.

Mintearo7 · 01/04/2023 07:51

Ours don’t do tests. Our school sends spellings at the beginning of each half term. Split by week so parents can help children learn in chunks but then also school they are encouraged to write these words in their written work/ are set tasks that include spelling these words verbally. Obviously then there is then praise or further intervention that follows.

SamPoodle123 · 01/04/2023 09:16

Reading is the best way. Both of my dc read a lot and they never have to study for the spelling tests and always get 20/20s. They have been getting spelling tests for a while at school. At the start they had to study for them. But as they started reading fluently and more, they never need to. I do think it is helpful for the kids to have these tests in addition to reading a lot.

BakedBear · 01/04/2023 17:03

If schools don't do spelling tests then lots of parents complain and say the school isn't doing enough to help their child.

Parents at a school local to me started a campaign and signed petitions to have more homework and more spellings.

Reading is the best way though.

BasilParsley · 01/04/2023 17:25

Age-appropriate word games such as crosswords/word searches etc will also really help them.

Maximo2 · 02/04/2023 18:05

We don’t use spelling tests either - but we do teach spelling! I’d recommend subscribing to Spelling Shed who follow the science of spelling closely.

ohfook · 02/04/2023 20:21

AuroraCake · 01/04/2023 03:28

Schools have always…since it became apparent in research…that spellings are useless but have always needed to be done to ensure parents feel they are helping.

This. I loathe giving homework. Except for reading, there is no proven benefit to it at all.

The things that do have a proven benefit for children are eating a meal as a family and a regular bedtime routine- two things that homework actually interferes with.

lifeissweet · 02/04/2023 20:25

I think one of the problems is those 'tricky words' and 'common exception words' in the curriculum. Children are assessed on them, so teachers feel the need to explicitly teach and practise those particular lists of words.

It doesn't help with general spelling, because they, by nature, don't teach general spelling rules. All it means it that children may be able to spell those particular words.

Agree that reading is the answer. Children need to be able to recognise when words just look wrong and for that they need exposure. It really is that simple.

lifeissweet · 02/04/2023 20:30

@ohfook
Totally agree. When I was a classroom teacher and parents asked what they could do to support their children the answer was always the same:

Talk to them about everything. Have proper conversations. Read with them and/or to them every day.

It's amazing how many parents (in my experience) don't hold conversations with their children. They don't eat around a table and practise those skills. Or have another time when they just chat with them.

I noticed after lockdown that some children's speech and language skills dropped off. I believe that some of those children just weren't having regular conversations with their families.

Original poster
leaderofthelittles · 02/04/2023 20:43

Maximo2 · 02/04/2023 18:05

We don’t use spelling tests either - but we do teach spelling! I’d recommend subscribing to Spelling Shed who follow the science of spelling closely.

Thank you for this. Dd is having fun on the spelling shed app.

When revising for my exams I always used an active recall technique, so repeated short tests, it works really well for me (I achieved high grades throughout school and university) so I just assumed spelling tests were similarly useful.

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Maximo2 · 02/04/2023 20:46

You’re welcome! Spelling tests don’t actually teach spelling explicitly, even though some schools think that’s what they’re doing. Our children outperformed children nationally in 18 out of 20 of the words in the Y6 spelling paper so we are pretty pleased with our spelling lessons 😊

Original poster
leaderofthelittles · 02/04/2023 20:54

This is all very interesting. Thank you all for the responses.

my children love to read and do read constantly.

We eat evening meals as a family at the table. We have consistent bedtime routines.

We have daily instrument practice. I'm struggling to see why a similar short regular approach to something you want to learn wouldn't be beneficial.

What are the opinions about times tables?

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Newuser82 · 02/04/2023 21:00

This is interesting. My year five son is an excellent reader. Way above his age. Reads constantly. His spelling is dreadful 🙈.

Original poster
leaderofthelittles · 02/04/2023 21:00

Maximo2 · 02/04/2023 20:46

You’re welcome! Spelling tests don’t actually teach spelling explicitly, even though some schools think that’s what they’re doing. Our children outperformed children nationally in 18 out of 20 of the words in the Y6 spelling paper so we are pretty pleased with our spelling lessons 😊

That's brilliant!

Our school does not have a good reputation for results and is known to be more pastoral, all mental health initiatives and no pressure. Which is fine but my kids are nerdy and a bit frustrated there. So I think I was a little skeptical when they shelved the spelling tests.

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Original poster
leaderofthelittles · 02/04/2023 21:01

Newuser82 · 02/04/2023 21:00

This is interesting. My year five son is an excellent reader. Way above his age. Reads constantly. His spelling is dreadful 🙈.

Glad I'm not alone :)

At 5 it's all about being "phonetically plausible" though I believe

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Original poster
leaderofthelittles · 02/04/2023 21:02

ah sorry misread that @Newuser82

My y5 is a worse speller than my y2. I wonder if the school shutdowns in covid scuppered them :(

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