At Langsford, we know spelling can feel tricky—for kids and parents alike. But the good news? There are simple, powerful tools you can use at home to help your child become a stronger, more confident speller. Here are our top go-to spelling tips that really work:
🔤 1. Sound Mapping
Sound mapping helps your child connect the dots between how a word sounds and how it’s spelled. It’s like building a word, sound by sound.
Try this:
- Say a word like “ship.”
- Have your child break it into its sounds: /sh/ /i/ /p/.
- Match each sound to a letter or letter team.
Tip: Draw boxes to represent each sound—they’ll love the visual puzzle!
✂️ 2. Segmenting
Segmenting is just a fancy word for stretching out words into their sounds.
Practice by:
- Clapping out each sound
- Using counters or blocks to represent each part
- Saying the word slowly and listening carefully
This is the foundation for strong spelling and reading—and it’s surprisingly fun when you make it a game.
🗣️ 3. “Say It to Spell It”
This one’s a Langsford classic. We encourage kids to say each sound as they write it down. Why? Because it activates multiple parts of the brain at once—visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.
Steps:
- Say the word together
- Stretch and spell it out loud as they write
- Re-read the word to lock it in
They’ll be spelling like champs in no time.
💡 Bonus Tips:
- Keep practice short and sweet—consistency wins
- Celebrate small wins (and big ones too!)
- Work spelling into everyday life—menus, notes, even shopping lists
Spelling isn’t just about memorizing words. It’s about understanding how language works—and that’s something every child can master with the right support.
💛 Want more expert help? At Langsford, our individualized programs build lasting reading and spelling success in just one semester. Click here to learn more.
Let’s make spelling something your child feels good about—because confident kids become confident learners!
