How to Teach English Spelling

(This is the first in a 5-part series on how to teach English spelling.)

Students and teachers alike can agree that spelling English words isn’t always easy. But with the right background skills, students can learn to recognize the patterns that exist in many English words. First, make sure your students are comfortable with the background skills. Then, you can teach English spelling successfully by using patterning.

Teach the Background Skills First

Learning how to spell English words can be relatively painless if you give your students a good foundation in the background skills that will help them succeed. These skills are:

Knowing the sequence of the English alphabet and being able to alphabetize words (learn more here!)
Being able to hear and produce each English sound (phonics) (learn more here!)
Understanding syllables (learn more here!)
Understanding how words rhyme and hearing rhyming patterns (learn more here!)

If your students have a general understanding of these skills, they are ready to learn about the patterns of English spelling. However, if your students are beginners, work with them on these basic skills before you introduce them to spelling. Click on the link after each skill to read more about it. If your students have a good grasp of these basics, read on for tips on how to teach spelling.

Use Patterns to Teach Spelling

Teaching the patterns that are found in English words is an effective way to increase students’ confidence in their ability to spell. Patterns help them learn spelling in “chunks,” then transfer that chunk of letters to other words that sound the same.

Phonics will also be useful with patterning. When students learn to recognize a chunk of letters, they can learn the most common way it is pronounced. This will also help their speaking ability.

An Example of Patterning

Here’s an example of patterning. When you teach the i-l-l pattern, students notice that it is spelled with two ls, and learn how it is pronounced. You can now introduce other words that are spelled with this pattern plus other letters, and this will reinforce the ill chunk. Students will gain confidence in their ability to spell and pronounce words correctly as you teach the different patterns of spelling.

Help Students Discover Patterns

You can help your students remember and apply these patterns by allowing them to discover patterns on their own. Teach the concept (for example, words with a long vowel and silent e), then provide them with listening, reading, and writing exercises that will introduce them to more words that follow this pattern. For example, you could introduce a new spelling pattern and ask students to review various Bible texts to find examples of this pattern.

When students are tasked with this kind of discovery approach, it helps them remember the patterns and feel ownership of their own learning. They may then be more willing to explore and learn on their own, outside of class.

Spelling as an Isolated Skill

Beginners should study words in isolation – one at a time, instead of in a complete reading or listening text. Beginners can write isolated words instead of sentences in their writing exercises, to help them focus on correct spelling and improve their recall for each new word.

More advanced students can use short or longer texts, depending on their level. When writing, intermediate to advanced students can write longer sentences that contain the spelling patterns being taught.

Which Patterns Should I Teach?

It is easiest to teach English spelling with simple patterns first.

Start with words that contain short vowel sounds, like the word endings -en (pen, men, happen) and -at (cat, hat, sat).
Next, teach long vowel patterns, such as the long vowel/silent e pattern.
After students are fairly comfortable with long vowel patterns, you can introduce patterns that contain consonant digraphs, like ch and sh, and consonant blends such as -tch and sch-. This is the point where you might also introduce silent letters, such as the combination –mb as in comb.
Finally introduce more complicated vowel sounds, like the oi in oil sound, and other more difficult spelling patterns, like how to spell words with r-controlled vowels, like doctor and helper.

A Pattern for Teaching Spelling in the Classroom

First, Teach the Meaning of the New Word

When you introduce new words and spelling patterns to your students, the first thing to do is make sure they understand what the new word means. Give them sample sentences that put the word in context to enforce this meaning. Use flashcards and other memory helps so that your students can remember and use this new vocabulary.

Second, Help Students Recognize the Word and Its Spelling

After they have learned the meaning of a word, make sure they can recognize the word when they see it written. They should then be able to pronounce it correctly. Demonstrate correct pronunciation, so that students can hear, see, and practice speaking the new word.

Third, Introduce the Spelling Patterns Found in the Word

Now you can introduce the spelling patterns contained in the word. Practice these patterns with reading, speaking, and writing exercises that will reinforce the spelling and pronunciation of these patterns.

Irregular Pronunciation - Teaching Sight Words

Many of the most common English words have irregular pronunciation. These are called sight words, and students will need to learn them individually, since there are no predictable patterns. Use the same techniques that you use for teaching new vocabulary that contains spelling patterns.

Write the word and pronounce it.
Explain the meaning.
Have students repeat the pronunciation.
Use the word in simple sentences to reinforce the meaning, spelling, and pronunciation.

Practicing the Dreaded Writing Skill is Important!

It’s important for even beginners to practice writing. Get them used to writing in English from the start, and they will feel more capable as they progress from writing the alphabet, then words, then sentences and paragraphs.

Dictation is a dreaded but very useful writing exercise. When you dictate words and simple sentences, students must transform what they hear into a word they can see and read, spelling it correctly. This will also reinforce the new vocabulary they are hearing and speaking.

Don't Stress About Mistakes

Don’t stress about mistakes in spelling, even for words you have studied. It may help your learners to remind them that many native English speakers often make spelling mistakes, too. One thing that can reduce stress is to notice mistakes that are common to your group and correct those mistakes together.

English Doesn't Have To Be Difficult

Students may come to your classes believing that English is difficult to learn. Compared to phonetic languages like Spanish, it can be, but you can help them relax. As you teach English spelling, show them that there are spelling patterns that they are very capable of practicing and learning. Encourage them to practice outside of class. Assign homework and encourage them to explore on their own.

Teaching Patterns Makes Spelling Easier

Using spelling patterns will increase students’ confidence and desire to continue learning more about communicating in English.

Next: Teaching the English Alphabet (click here)