Study Smart:Spelling Survival

Dear Study Smart: My spelling is really, really bad. I need a trick to make it better. -- Ashley S, 5th grade, Washington

Dear Ashley: Everybody has problems spelling. What's worse is when we keep spelling the same word the wrong way, over and over again. Here are some tips on to stop that from happening.

Spelling Trouble-buster: Supplies

• a notebook you can fit in your backback
  
  
• a pencil or pen
  
  
• a tape recorder and tape
  
  
• a little student dictionary
  
  
• a highlighter pen, your favorite color
  
  
• choose a reward, like an ice cream, or movie
  
  

Step One - Find What You Miss

• Next time you misspell a word, write it down in your Spelling Trouble-buster notebook.
  
  
• When you get a test back with a word misspelled, write it down.
  
  
• When you get an essay back with a word misspelled, write it down.
  
  
• When you read a word you don't know, write it down.
  
  
• Lots of times you can't spell what you can't pronounce. Write words down that you can't pronounce.
  
  
• If you spell a word a whole new way every day, write that down too.
  
  
• If you can only spell part of a word, write it down.
  
  
• Put a check mark next to words that are in your book already, but keep showing up on your papers as misspelled.
  
  

Step Two-Catch That Word

• Once a week, schedule time to look at your Spelling Trouble-buster notebook
  
  
• Pick five words from the ones that have checks next to them.
  
  
• Look them up in your dictionary. Write down their meaning in your book.
  
  
• Put down what kind of word it is. Is it a noun? Verb? Adjective?
  
  
• Ask your mom or teacher to say the first word into your tape recorder.
  
  
• Then ask them to spell that word, slowly, one letter at a time.
  
  
• Then ask them to use it in a sentence.
  
  
• Next, play back the tape to yourself.
  
  
• Write down the word when it is spoken.
  
  
• Write down the word again when it is spelled out, one letter at a time.
  
  
• Stop the tape.
  
  
• Say the word out loud. Try to pronounce it the same way as it is on the tape.
  
  
• Picture the word broken up into syllables.
  Like: pic ture or bro ken, in to, syl la bles
  
  
• Now, start the tape again.
  
  
• Write down the sentence that is spoken.
  
  
• Make up your own sentence using that word.
  
  
• Have someone else check your work to make sure the words in the sentence are spelled right.
  
  
• Make sure the word is used correctly, too. Make sure the meaning is right.
  
  

Step Three-Own That Word

• Next, have a friend or your parents or someone read your list of five words.
  
  
• Ask them to read the words out of order. Like, bottom to top, or middle of list first.
  
  
• As they read the words, you write them down on a piece of paper.
  
  
• Have them check your work to see that the words are spelled right.
  
  
• Highlight the words that are spelled right.
  
  
• Any word still spelled wrong? Keep taping it, playing it back and spelling it. You'll get it right.
  
  
• Use the word in a sentence. Make sure the meaning is right.
  
  

Step Four -Reward Yourself

• Review your list of words every week. Read them over and write them in a sentence.
  
  
• Do a test of these words every four weeks.
  
  
• Got twenty or more right? Highlight them and take yourself out for a movie or a treat!