How to Handle Spelling Mistakes

Here’s a fact: Your child is going to make an occasional spelling mistake.

The question is: How will you handle these mistakes?

Now is the perfect time to think through the answer to this question—because the way you handle errors can make a huge difference in your child’s ability and confidence. So let’s dig in!

Right off the bat, I’d like to share my “thought filter” for dealing with spelling mistakes.

As you can see from the graphic above, there are really just two scenarios you need to be concerned with. First let’s zoom in on how to handle errors made during spelling lessons.

How to Handle Spelling Mistakes Made During a Lesson

When you’re in the middle of a spelling lesson, a mistake may seem like a reason for concern. But, in fact, every spelling mistake is a chance for your child to learn.

1. Ask your student to carefully read exactly what she has written down.
   Often, she will be able to see and correct her own error.

2. Determine the cause of the spelling mistake.
   For example, perhaps your child left out a sound or added an extra one, or perhaps she didn’t apply a rule, made a visual error, or forgot to think through syllables or root words. Talk through the reasons the word is misspelled. Doing this will help the correct spelling make more sense to her than if you simply correct the mistake without explanation. If you need to review a phonogram or a rule, now is the time to do it.

   It’s important to keep those spelling rules fresh in your child’s mind!

   • Demonstrate the rule by writing it out or using the letter tiles to spell the troublesome word correctly and explaining how the rule applies.
   • Have your child spell other words that follow the same rule or generalization.
   • Be sure to revisit that rule several times over the next few days until your student demonstrates mastery of it.

3. Have your student spell the word again.
   First have her spell the word with the letter tiles and then once again on paper.

4. Add the word to your child’s spelling review box.
   Leave the word in the review box until your child can spell it quickly and easily. Regular review of challenging words allows ample opportunity for the correct spelling pattern to be ingrained in your student’s mind.

If your child misspells many words during spelling lessons, that’s a sign that you should slow down the pacing of your lessons. You want to make sure she masters the current spelling patterns before you add more.

Outside of spelling lessons, it’s a different scenario. Read on to find out how to handle those types of spelling errors.

How to Handle Spelling Mistakes Made Outside of a Lesson

When your child is writing during free-writing time or completing assignments for other classes …

• she isn’t working with a controlled word list but is probably using words that contain concepts she hasn’t learned yet.
• you aren’t watching her write out each word.
• you don’t want her to limit her word choices to avoid being corrected. Instead you want to encourage creativity and freedom.

So we need a different approach for misspellings that occur outside of spelling lessons. This two-step process will help.

1. If you have already covered the spelling concepts related to the misspelled word, don’t rush to correct the word.
   Instead, write yourself a private note to review those concepts during your next spelling lesson.

2. This is really hard for some parents, but once you’ve written your note, ignore the spelling mistake!
   Don’t mark up your child’s paper with spelling corrections, and don’t require her to correct it.

Note that you will be holding your student responsible for writing words correctly if they include concepts you have already taught, but at this stage, when the mistake is made outside of the spelling lessons, you won’t be stopping everything and making her rewrite. Wait until the next spelling lesson to review the related concepts.

Download the “How to Correct Spelling Mistakes” Quick Guide

You may want to download our “cheat sheet” and tuck it into your teacher’s manual for a visual reminder of the two main ways to handle misspellings.

Still have questions about correcting your child’s spelling errors? Here are a few more tips!

Common Questions about Misspellings

Wouldn’t it be nice if spelling wasn’t difficult? Download my free report, “6 Ways We Make Spelling Easy,” and discover how the All About Spelling program takes the struggle out of spelling.